Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given is hopeful his man-of-the-match performance in their 2-1 FA Cup fifth round win over Leicester has proved to new manager Tim Sherwood that he still has plenty to offer.

Villa went ahead through Leandro Bacuna and doubled their lead through substitute Scott Sinclair. Leicester's club-record signing Andrej Kramaric got a goal back, but it was Villa who progressed.

Given, who is 39 in April, played alongside Sherwood at Blackburn and put in a sterling performance, with one save in particular to deny Matty James laying the platform for the victory.

"When the new manager comes in it's a clean slate for everyone. I have plenty to offer and I hope that Tim sees that today," Given said.

Sherwood gave the half-time team talk and Given was glowing about the words spoken by the new boss.

"He was very positive, he's always a positive guy," he said. "He told us to go express yourself, keep shooting and use Christian's strength."

Villa sacked Paul Lambert after a poor run of form which has seen them drop into the bottom three in the Barclays Premier League, and Given hopes the win will be the catalyst to kick-start their season.

"We have to take confidence. We scored two goals, we have struggled to score goals. We will take belief from that as well and use this momentum to take into our league games," he said.

Meanwhile, caretaker boss Scott Marshall revealed Sherwood's half-time pep talk inspired Villa to book their last-16 berth.

the FA Cup quarter finals.

Sherwood made an impromptu appearance during Villa's 2-1 win over Leicester with the score locked at 0-0.

And Marshall admitted he made his presence felt.

"He came in and made a couple of points to the lads, a couple of bits and pieces for everyone. I thought the boys delivered that in the second half and were very good," he said.

"He was there and there was good information to the group, there's a football knowledge there which comes with a lifetime in the game.

"He was in the dressing room before the game briefly, not a huge amount, but he introduced himself and wished the boys the best."

Sherwood did not have any input in the team selection but watched with chief executive Tom Fox after being appointed until 2018 on Saturday.

Marshall is keen to stay on at Villa, after being brought in by Lambert, and will speak to Sherwood about his future.

He said: "The focal point has been the game and preparing the players. I am sure the next few days will take care of itself. The group have been very professional.

"They have delivered on the pitch and showed a great spirit and togetherness. They know they are going to have to take it forward in a league campaign."

And Marshall admitted he had spoken to the axed Lambert ahead of the game at Villa Park.

"He gave me a bit of encouragement for the day and wanted the team to do well and that was it really," he added.

Andrej Kramaric scored in stoppage time to set up a nervy finish but the Leicester fans chanted 'what a load of rubbish' in the second half.

"People are entitled to their opinions, it doesn't matter what I think," boss Nigel Pearson said.

But with the Foxes out of the cup and bottom of the Barclays Premier League the manager admitted they must improve.

He said: "We know we have a lot to do this season but what we have to do is find a way of being consistent.

"I never thought it would be easy but we're not making life easy for ourselves

"We need mental resilience, absolutely. With the players' technical ability they are only able to put on show if they have the mental qualities to do that.

"It's been suggested that it is easier to prepare against the bigger sides but I do not know. We have found ourselves in losing positions far too often."