Tim Sherwood team-talk helps Aston Villa secure FA Cup victory

Tim Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert, who was sacked

New Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood delivered a half-time team talk that helped inspire his players to an FA Cup fifth-round win against Leicester.

Sherwood, appointed on Saturday, watched the game from the directors' box but went to the Villa dressing room at half-time when the score was 0-0.

Goals from Leandro Bacuna and Scott Sinclair then secured a 2-1 win.

"The boys took his points on board and delivered it in the second half," Villa caretaker boss Scott Marshall said.

"I think he will have seen the spirit in the dressing room, and hopefully that will continue into the league over the next few weeks."

Villa goalkeeper Shay Given, who made a number of superb saves to deny Leicester before Bacuna scored the opener, praised Sherwood's "positive" words.

"I've known Tim from our Blackburn days and he's a very positive character," he said.

"He just came into the dressing room at half-time and spoke positively to us."

Sherwood's first game in the Villa dugout will be the visit of Stoke in the Premier League next Saturday.

Sunday's win was Villa's third in 2015, but they have all come in the FA Cup with their last league victory on 7 December.

Villa are third from bottom with 22 points from 25 games and Given hopes the victory against Leicester, coupled with Sherwood's arrival, can inspire the players to secure the results needed to retain their Premier League status.

"Everyone's trying to impress the new manager and I'm no different," added Given.

"With the new manager coming on board everyone's got a point to prove.

"We've struggled to score goals so it's nice to get a couple and hopefully we can use this momentum in the league now."