Last Updated: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:48
Eric Lichaj is backing Aston Villa to bounce back from their defeat to Arsenal with an improved showing against Chelsea.
The young full-back is under no illusions about the team's need to pick up some victories to see off the threat of relegation and he admits the sooner those results can come the better.
Lichaj will get his chance to do his bit against the Blues as he is in line for his first start of the season as a replacement Alan Hutton, who is struggling with a calf problem.
The American defender made his first appearance in senior football in six months at the weekend after recovering from a hip injury as Villa slipped to a 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
His previous outing for Alex McLeish's men came in the Carling Cup win over Hereford when he also managed to get his name on the scoresheet.
Villa are desperate for a change of fortune against Chelsea, having won just twice in 10 Premier League matches - against Wolves and Fulham - since their victory over the Blues at Stamford Bridge at the turn of the year.
Lichaj told reporters: "Hopefully everyone will be sharp for the Chelsea game on Saturday.
"Football is all about rising to the occasion and we need to win some games.
"Hopefully everyone will step up to the plate, be a team and win that game."
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