By Paul Brown

Brad Guzan is urging Villa fans to match the passion of their Rapid Vienna counterparts in next Thursday's second leg Europa League play-off clash.

The American goalkeeper admits Rapid's fervent support created an intimidating atmosphere at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium.

And he feels the claret and blue faithful can make life equally difficult for the Austrians in the return match.

Guzan wants progress to the group stages of the competition to set up some memorable nights at Villa Park.

He told AVTV: "In my first season at Villa we obviously advanced to the group stages and that set up some really special nights at Villa Park like Ajax. That's what it's all about.

"We'll be looking forward to next week and striving to advance. "Our ultimate goal in Europe is to get through to these group stages and bring back some nights to remember at Villa Park, backed by our tremendous supporters.

"It won't be an easy game but hopefully we will come out with the right result.

"In the first leg, we knew coming into it that it was going to be a difficult game and a hostile environment.

"But for us it was just about playing football, trying to get the ball on the floor and performing how we know we can.

"We have good guys in the dressing room and, as I said, it was about us playing our football. We will take that result as we head into the second leg at Villa Park.

"It's difficult to block it all out but at the same time you're a professional footballer. You have to find a way to deal with it and a way to get on with the football and put it behind you.

"Sometimes it's not easy as we saw against Rapid. You can be standing five feet away from one of your team-mates and be shouting at the top of your lungs and they still can't hear you.

"You don't want to see some of that though. Unfortunately there were a few things - liquid beverages - but you have to put things like that behind you too.

"That's part of the environment and you find a way to deal with it. It's part of the hostile environment, it's part of the crowd and something we knew we were coming into.

"We knew from last season that their crowd get behind their team.

"Overall, we will take the result. I thought the lads were fantastic and put in a good shift. I thought it was a collective effort to get a hard-fought draw. We now go back to Villa Park and hopefully get a good result now."

Guzan was not shocked with the outstanding contribution of Villa's young lions, insisting they perform like that every day in training.

He added: "We work with them day-in and day-out at the training ground. I am not surprised to see them having good games.

"It's brilliant when you see young lads stepping up in games like this - in front of a crowd like this - and see them put in the performances they did.

"They have proven they deserve to be out there on the pitch."

Click here to secure your seats for that terrific Villa Park second leg and cheer on the lads.