Charles N’Zogbia has a new lease of life at Aston Villa

FOR Charles N'Zogbia and Scott Sinclair, the arrival of Tim Sherwood at Aston Villa has suddenly provide a shaft of light and hope in careers that had been shrouded in misery.

Charles N’Zogbia is working hard off the pitchPA

Charles N’Zogbia is working hard off the pitch

The freedom and excitement that manager Sherwood has brought to Villa has enlivened the club. For those two players, however, it has been vital.

Villa reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 2010 as they won their second game in six days against local rivals Albion, thanks to goals from Fabian Delph and Sinclair.

But it was N'Zogbia's flair and invention that opened up this game for Sherwood and enabled them to book their place at Wembley.

The Frenchman missed the 2013-14 season with an Achilles tendon injury and was cast as the eternal substitute under Paul Lambert. But Sherwood has given him his head.

Sinclair had endured a similarly miserable spell at Manchester City.

Sherwood said: "I said to Charles when I came that I have a long memory. I know how good he was at Wigan, how scared managers are when he is flying.

"He can be anything he wants to be. I told him he needs to be fitter and do a little bit extra than the others and he said no problem.

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"Now I am seeing him go and get clean kit after training and go and do his little bit extra and he gets rewarded for that. Anyone does who proves to me they are willing to pick up the baton.

"The biggest attribute Charles has is that he hasn't got any qualms about the crowd being a bit edgy. He will do his best.

I told him he needs to be fitter and do a little bit extra than the others and he said no problem

Tim Sherwood

"I will never burn any bridges with any player, they all have an opportunity to play."

Sherwood likens the way he is resurrecting N'Zogbia with the way he got another supposed maverick in Emmanuel Adebayor back into goalscoring form at Tottenham.

He said: "People want to rubbish them but I have never had a problem with Adebayor, or Charles.

"I've heard people say he [N'Zogbia] might let me down. But I take him on face value and he hasn't let me down yet. When others buckle, he won't."

Albion had Claudio acob unjustly sent off for a soft challenge on Jores Okore and Villa's Jack Grealish was then harshly dismissed for a second yellow for diving.

Baggies manager Tony Pulis said: "Twice we've been here now and we certainly didn't need referees making decisions like these.

"For Yacob to be sent off then was hard. Anthony has made a very, very poor decision. It was seriously wrong. The biggest disappointment is that it's two yellow cards so we can't appeal. I find that disgraceful."

ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Given 7; Bacuna 6, Okore 7, Clark 7, Lowton 6; Cleverley 6 (Sanchez 65 6), Westwood 7, Delph 7; N'Zogbia 8 (Grealish 74 6), Agbonlahor 7 (Gil 89), Sinclair 7. Booked: N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor. Sent off: Grealish (90. Goals: Delph 51, Sinclair 85. Next Up: Sunderland (a) Saturday, PL.

West Brom (4-4-2): Myhill 7; Dawson 6, McAuley 7, Olsson 6 (McManaman 69 6), Lescott 6; Gardner 7 (Mulumbu 85 6), Yacob 7, Morrison 7, Brunt 7; Berahino 6, Ideye 6. Booked: Dawson. Sent off: Yacob 80. Next Up: Stoke (h) Saturday, PL.

Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).

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