Former Aston Villa fullback Colin Gibson has urged fans to recognise where they've come from this season.

"Villa fans need to consider where they were before Martin O'Neill and Randy Lerner came in," Gibson told the Birmingham Mail.

"It's only a few years ago that they were fighting for survival to stay in the Premier League, let alone challenging the big four.

"They've made massive strides to go from 16th in the table to where they are now and fifth place would be a very good season.

"Making that step up from fifth to fourth is so tough, it's even more of a jump than 16th to fifth and it will take time.

"Villa have made rapid progress but they've done it using a steady, sensible approach and there's no reason to change that now," he added.