Gerard Houllier hailed the performance of Robert Pires as Aston Villa booked a last 16 spot in the FA Cup thanks to a 3-1 win over Blackburn.
Pires scored his first goal for the club and was an influential figure before he left the pitch to a standing ovation mid-way through the second half.
Ciaran Clark and Nathan Delfouneso were also on target for Villa with substitute Nikola Kalinic netting for Rovers.
Houllier said: "He (Pires) is fitter first of all. He played against Sheffield United in the last round and I think he is getting better and better.
"He has still got the touch and the eye for the pass and he brings some fluency to the game with his technique.
"I was pleased by the reaction of the bench when he scored.
"That is something very telling. The whole bench went up and were very happy and proud for him.
"He is a popular fellow. They like him. He is a nice man.
"We've got to understand he has not got the legs of when he was 30 but he still can run and have an impact."
Houllier will not be appealing against the straight red card handed out to 19-year-old defender Nathan Baker for a challenge on Junior Hoilett after 62 minutes.
He said: "We won't be appealing. It looked harsh from where I was but I can understand the referee has a totally different angle and he was thinking 'feet off the ground.'
"The boy will learn he doesn't need to do that, particularly in the midfield area."
Villa have now won three games in the past week and Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Michael Bradley is poised to join on loan for the remainder of the season.
Houllier said: "It was great to keep the momentum going, that was one of our missions today, to keep the winning edge.
"They played well, they had a couple of chances as well and hit the bar. We probably played better in the first half.
"It was a different game when we were down to 10 men but I am as proud of their effort in the first half as in the second half because we had to show discipline and tactical adjustment to the situation.
"We kept a clean sheet when with 10 men which is good. The commitment and passing has improved a lot."
Rovers boss Steve Kean was left to bemoan his own side's shortcomings at both ends of the pitch.
He said: "We looked at the chances we had and we need to be a bit more ruthless. We had eight good chances and did not work Brad Friedel enough.
"We are disappointed with that part of our game and the goals we conceded in the first half were poor goals."
Kean accepted there was no malicious intent in Baker's challenge on Hoilett which means the Villa youngster faces a three game ban.
He said: "It was just mis-timed. It was high and late but I spoke with Gary McAllister (Villa assistant-manager) and he told me Nathan is not that type of lad.
"He is a bit upset so we will take that it was mis-timed. I thought it was red. It was late and high but fortunately caught Junior on the chest."
