Gerard Houllier assured fans there was no deliberate snub during Aston Villa's Carling Cup win over Blackburn Rovers.

Houllier's name was chanted by the Holte End, but the boss confessed he had to be given a nudge by assistant Gary McAllister to respond to their calls for a wave because he was too engrossed in the game.

He also paid tribute to Barry Bannan who almost capped a fine display with a goal.