Tickets on sale to Villa fans for FA Cup final

Villa supporters are in the throes of FA Cup fever after final tickets went on sale yesterday.

Fans queued outside the Villa Park ticket office from the early hours to ensure they would be at Wembley for the May 30 showpiece against Arsenal.

The first supporter to snap up a ticket was Dave Lane, who was also in attendance the last time Villa lifted the cup in 1957.

"I woke up at about 2.30am, made a cup of tea but then couldn't get back to sleep so I thought I might as well park up outside Villa Park," he said.

Villa beat Liverpool 2-1 in the semi-final earlier this month to set up a showdown with the Gunners.

Tim Sherwood's side are just the second Villa team to reach the final of the competition in 58 years. Villa were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in 2000.

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The agent of Christian Benteke has, meanwhile, played down reports linking the striker with a summer move.

Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked with the Belgium international but Benteke's agent, Eric Kismet, insists the 24-year-old's sole focus is on keeping Villa in the Premier League.

"At the moment, there is no interest," he said. "Every player and staff member is concentrated on avoiding relegation, anything else is just a distraction.

"I know everyone wants the same thing because I watch the games and I think Aston Villa are playing the best football in England right now."

Villa have reportedly joined the race for Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford. Southampton and Crystal Palace are also in the chase.

The 21-year-old has scored 19 goals on loan at Middlesbrough this season and his parent club are willing to let him join a Premier League club next season.