Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner gave the players a peptalk this week.

The chairman wants the players to show "confidence and belief" and enjoy a classy finish to the campaign.

Manager Alex McLeish told Villa's website: "Randy was in on Tuesday morning. He was with Stan on Monday but he came up and spoke to the lads the following day and said a few words about Stan.

"He wished the players all the best and to be strong themselves and be in charge of their own destiny for the remaining eight games.

"It was good for the chairman to do that with the boys.

"He came on to the training field. He normally just observes but he had a couple of words about Stan's illness and that we're obviously all standing to-to-toe to support him.

"He also told the lads to have the confidence and belief in themselves for the last eight games and for the youngsters to really make a go of it."