We Must Stop Roberts

Olof Mellberg today singled-out striker Jason Roberts as the key threat to Villa¡¦s hopes of derby glory on Saturday.

The Swedish international ace discovered what a handful Roberts can be when the two sides fought out a goalless draw at The Hawthorns last month.

And, as Villa look to bounce back from Saturday¡¦s defeat against Newcastle, Mellberg admitted Roberts will be the Albion dangerman.

He commented: "He uses his arms and his body and pulls your shirt quite a lot. It can be ugly but he does it at the right times.

"If you can get away with it, it's a good thing to do. You have to play on the verge of what you're allowed, and he does. Those sort of strikers are always difficult to play against.¡¨

Mellberg added: "Roberts hasn't been the most dangerous player in front of goal. Obviously, he hasn't scored as many goals as Michael Owen or Thierry Henry but you have to take into account he is playing in West Bromwich and not Arsenal or Liverpool and, from the little I have seen of him, he is a good player."