News in Picture

How you actually gauge managerial success is hard to quantify these days, but one very accurate measure is silverware and Martin O'Neill has the chance to win his first trophy for Aston Villa in the Carling Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday.

O'Neill has probably made fourth place in the Premier League and the resulting place in next season's Champions League the main priority, but don't let anyone tell you they would be anything less than elated by winning a trophy against Manchester United at a packed Wembley.

Wembley is, and always will be, magical and while the Carling Cup may not have the lustre of the old League Cup because the major clubs may pick weakened teams in the earlier rounds, this will still be a huge occasion.

And while I am not going to be foolish enough to back against Manchester United, I do think Villa have a great chance.

They have already taken four points off United this season, so confidence should not be a problem.

It will be a tight game and I think Villa will try and use the pace and power they have in abundance to hit United on the break.

They also pose a huge danger at set-pieces, with the likes of Richard Dunne and Carlos Cuellar going forward in the hope of getting on the excellent delivery from people like James Milner, Ashley Young or Stewart Downing.

Villa face a tough task though because it is a tribute to United and their manager Sir Alex Ferguson that they are in contention for the Carling Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League because they have played poorly for such a large part of this season.

And while O'Neill may have a top four place at the top of his wish-list, a major trophy against Manchester United at Wembley will mean this top manager can stamp his mark even more indelibly on Aston Villa.

Alan Hansen will be an expert summariser on BBC One's live coverage of the Carling Cup final on Sunday (from 1400 GMT).

Football Focus (1215, BBC One/online); Premier League commentaries (1245 & 1800, BBC Radio 5 live/online); Final Score (1430, BBC Red Button/online; 1630, BBC One/online); Match of the Day (2230, BBC One/online); The Football League Show (2340, BBC One/online).

Match of the Day repeat (0745, BBC One/online); Premier League commentaries (1300, BBC Radio 5 live/online); MOTD Live: Aston Villa v Man Utd (1400, BBC One/online & BBC HD; 1500, BBC Radio 5 live/online); Match of the Day 2 (2255, BBC Two/online); The League Cup Show (2345, BBC Two/online).

Highlights (1200-1330, BBC Two/BBC HD); British Columbia: Canada's Olympic Wilderness (1800-1900, BBC Two/online); Live action (1900-0200, BBC Two/BBC HD/online; 1900-0530, BBC Red Button/online).

Highlights (1200-1400, BBC Two/BBC HD/online); Live action (1730-2300, BBC Red Button/online; 2000-2255, BBC Two/BBC HD/online); Closing ceremony (0100-0345, BBC Two/BBC HD/online).

Cricket: One-day international - Bangladesh v England (0745-1600, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/Radio 4LW/online); Rugby league: World Club Challenge - Leeds Rhinos v Melbourne Storm (1825-2015, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/online); The Super League Show (2225-2305, BBC One North/online and 0345-0425, BBC Two).