Alex McLeish has called for more "snarling" in the Aston Villa dressing room.
His team are without a win in six home games, but are unbeaten in the last five league outings on the road.
Ahead of Sunday's clash at Newcastle United, the Scot stressed the importance of a happy dressing room.
He told the club's official website: "I think there's good camaraderie.
"You don't want the players to be in love with each other though. I think there's got to be a little bit of fist-clenching and sometimes snarling at each other, just to shake each other up.
"I've said that we're a wee bit quiet in that respect.
"But the team spirit is tremendous and it's one of the things that I've always insisted upon trying to build at every club I've been at."
Aston Villa lost 6-0 at St James' Park last season.
