Gerard Houllier hailed another match-winning contribution from Emile Heskey after the striker's late goal handed Aston Villa three points against Wolves. "After the Carling Cup game I told him 'well done son, this is what you are capable of and there is no reason why you cannot repeat that'," Houllier told the club's official web site.
"All players need confidence - strikers need more confidence. Everybody loves Emile at the club, he is a good team-mate and what he needs is probably to keep believing in himself.
"But don't forget a striker can play very well for 30 to 45 minutes, then he has a dip, then he comes back and, with many strikers, you sometimes think 'hang on, is he playing?'.
"But Emile, in terms of effort, he contributes because he fights for the ball in the air, he tries to keep it and link it in midfield and his understanding and movement with Ashley [Young] is good."
Houllier was delighted with Villa's team ethic in the pressure-cooker derby atmosphere.
"It was tough but good," he added. "Winning a derby game away from home is always a great performance.
"I liked my team, the way they responded when they were tired and when they were under pressure.
"Sometimes we were in difficulty but you can expect that. They were 1-0 down at home and we knew they would throw everything at us and put us on the back foot.
"But I like the fact that even in difficulty we could feel there was good team bonding.
"It is important to understand that you are not going to dominate all of the games and be on top of the opposition, particularly in the Premier League.
"But the fact that even when we were in trouble, you could feel the team had the attitude and the spirit to withstand the pressure.
"I like the fact the goals were scored with good movement. It is difficult here - they are always on your back and sometimes you can't turn.
"It is physically a very demanding sort of encounter. But once we could put the ball on the floor and play we were more dangerous."
Houllier relished his first game back in the English top-flight for six years - especially in the special atmosphere of a derby.
"I've got a good record in derbies," he said. "I think against Everton [as Liverpool manager] I played six times, we drew twice 0-0 and we won four on the trot.
"They are special games. First of all it means a lot for the fans and for the club.
"The physical commitment is high. I like the attitude. It is a different ball game, I would say."
