Wanderers fans could hold the key to a quick return trip to Wembley. The 24,000-strong Reebok travelling army was praised for its ear-bursting backing by both chairman Phil Gartside and manager Sam Allardyce.

And they have been urged to produce more of the same as the team bids to bounce back from yesterday's setback by reaching the play-offs.

Despite being 10,000 fewer in number Wanderers fans turned the volume up louder and for longer than their Villa counterparts. Mr Gartside praised: "I thought the crowd was great.

"If we can bring some of that back to the Reebok over the next three games we will be back here next month in the play-off final."

Allardyce added: "The fans were great right from the moment we came out of the tunnel.

"Because we played very well it gave them the spirit and the heart to sing and they helped us a lot.

"It was just a pity they could not have sucked Deano's chance in at the end."

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