SAM Allardyce is hoping to inflict more Carling Cup misery on Gerard Houllier – but has dismissed claims the returning Frenchman is already ‘past it’ for the Premier League.

The former Liverpool boss takes charge at Villa for the first time this evening for Rovers’ third round visit, with opposite number Allardyce insisting Houllier’s three years out of management won’t count against him in his new English challenge.

Big Sam still remembers his only other Carling Cup battle with Houllier with fondness though – Bolton’s fourth round 3-2 win at Anfield on their way to the final in 2004 – as he looks to erase last season’s semi-final heartbreak.

Rovers were on the wrong end of a thrilling 6-4 semi final second leg defeat at Villa Park last season, having raced into a early two-goal lead, with Allardyce now desperate to go one better this time round.

He said: “It was painful because we got 2-0 up. Whatever anyone says, if you are to get to a final you need that decision to go for you.

“The decision to be made at that particular time was the foul on Ryan Nelsen and funnily enough Stephen Warnock scored.

“That decision was a critical one and just as critical as Chris Samba’s sending off after that.

“I don’t think Chris would have got sent off had that decision not been given against us.

“It was a thrilling encounter. A bizarre game from a manager’s point of view because it ended up 6-4.

“From anybody’s point of view in terms of football, it was probably the best cup tie in the entire season. Unfortunately at the end of it we got a lot of credit but lost.

“From a football point of view you want to get to get to a cup final, it is more exciting then getting into Europe.

"Because if you get to Europe, people say you have got to Europe.

"If you reach a cup final, and pick up a trophy, it lives with you forever.

“Gerard and I have had some good battles. Our best result was in the Carling Cup where we beat them 3-2 and we got to the final.

"Djorkaeff scored the winner from the penalty spot and it was an unbelievable result for us, at Anfield.”

Houllier is well known to the Premier League, having been appointed manager of Liverpool in June 1998, and helping the Reds win the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup during his six years at the club.

After a following two-year spell at Lyon though, the 63-year-old has spent the last few years out of management and working for the French Football Federation, causing some to raise their eyebrows at his Villa appointment.

Allardyce said: “I don’t think there are a lot of managers available to do the job throughout Europe at this moment in time.

"He has a track record at Liverpool and they wanted an experienced manager.

“In appointment terms for some, the Villa fans maybe, it was a bit of a surprise but in terms of football it was not that big a surprise. He hasn’t been out of football.

"I have seen him out on the Champions League circuit for UEFA as well as being manager of Lyon not so long ago.

“You don’t lose your qualities as a manager, just like you don’t lose your qualities as a player - until you can’t run any more. As a manager you don’t need to run anyway.

“You just gather your experience and knowledge as the years go on and you don’t lose that knowledge.

"It is just other people think you are maybe past it or you maybe too old.

"He hasn’t really been out of it.

"He has been on the fringe of things and keeping up with changes in the game by being in touch with it.”

Houllier replaces Martin O’Neill at Villa Park and Allardyce has warned the Frenchman he does have big shoes to fill, with the Midland outfit now expected to consistently challenge for Europe.

“The criteria that Martin O’Neill set is it is a club that are pushing quite strongly for a Champions League spot,” said Allardyce.

“The back end of the season they have dipped away to not secure what looked on the cards.

“It is a difficult thing to do to break into the top four when you look at all the money that has been spent. Villa have spent a lot of money but they didn’t spend as much as the others who have got there.

“The expectations have been built up and you have to live up to those expectations.

"It is a difficult job to go into a club who have been successful rather than a job where the club has struggled or not doing as well as expected.

“You have your own pressures when you have a good squad of players because the expectation is already there and that is six or better.”