Glenn Whelan calls on Aston Villa to use last season's heartbreak as motivation in this year's play-offs.

Villa fell at the final hurdle when they were beaten by Fulham at Wembley 12 months ago.

They now host rivals Albion on Saturday in the first-leg of a semi-final with midfield veteran Whelan claiming that heartbreak must be used as a positive.

He said: “We came so close last year and were disappointed. Hopefully we can use that disappointment to get us over the line.

“It’s great when things are going your way, but we also go through disappointment together.

“So we need to use that and turn it into a positive rather than a negative. Because there is a belief in the dressing room that we can go on and do something.”

Villa head into the tie as the form team after taking 32 points from their final 13 games to barge their way into the top six.

Last Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Norwich ended a 12-match unbeaten run but Whelan believes momentum has been maintained.

“No matter how we play, we always believe we’re going to win,” he said.

“Confidence is still high. We’re a little bit disappointed as we didn’t get off to a great start and around Christmas we had a lot of draws. It’s those periods that have cost us being higher in the table

“It’s hard going through the play-offs but that’s the way we’re going to have to do it.”

Saturday’s game is already a sell-out in home areas and Whelan added: “Since I first came here Villa Park has always been bouncing and the fans have always got behind us, both home and away.

“It goes without saying though, that we need to go out there and perform and give them something to shout about.

“If we don’t, we know it is going to be a little bit flat. That’s down to us.

“Over the last three months though the crowd have gone up in their number, week-in, week-out and we have gone and performed for them. Hopefully that will continue.”