Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers, Sunday 4.05pm

ASTON Villa manager Graham Taylor has issued a "points make prizes" message to his players as he challenged them to show the level of consistency that has been lacking in the final third of the Premiership campaign.

Villa will go into tomorrow's televised clash with Blackburn Rovers on the back of finally achieving their first away league success of the season via the 5-2 demolition of Middlesbrough in midweek.

But Taylor is aware that Villa have had a habit of shooting themselves in the foot when they look to have turned the corner, as demonstrated earlier this month when they achieved a deserved 1-1 draw at Liverpool and then lost at home to Tottenham after a below-par display.

A respectable mid-table position looks to be the only realistic aim at this juncture after the 4-1 FA Cup exit at the hands of Graeme Souness' Blackburn at Villa Park three weeks ago.

But Taylor has urged his side to set their sights high and try and surpass last season's final position of eighth - and in the process bolster the coffers with around £500,000 for every place further up the table they finish.

He said: "The season has been disappointing in the sense that I thought we would be in the top part of the table. I had no reason to think anything other than that.

"But we have 13 games left, almost a third of the season, and the most important thing is where you finish - not where you are after 20 odd games. It is up to us to show that we are capable of producing a sprint finish."