Former Aston Villa star Ray Houghton has called on manager Tim Sherwood to show more passion on the touchline.

Houghton reckons the claret and blues need more leadership and has called on the manager to give the team more guidance from the sidelines.

"I've watched the last two games when we lost at home to West Brom and Stoke and were very unconvincing" said Houghton to the Birmingham Mail.

"There were too many players sitting back and not taking responsibility and, looking at Tim Sherwood's face, he was not being as demonstrative as he usually is.

"The team needs some help and someone to point them in the right direction and Tim Sherwood isn't doing that at the moment.

"But he has come out trying to fight his corner, especially with the club's financial situation, and hopefully he can turn it around."