Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa 1 Stoke City 0: O'Neill throws down gauntlet to fringe players
At the end of the most satisfying week of his reign, Martin O'Neill threw down a challenge. After claiming this was the club's 'best win of the season so far', he put his squad on red alert.[LNB]O'Neill's assessment may have raised a few eyebrows, given the result seven days earlier at Old Trafford, but given that it was the same starting XI that beat the champions and returned triumphant from the Stadium of Light, he clearly had a point.[LNB]Despite four victories in consecutive Premier League matches and no goals conceded, there are holiday clashes against Arsenal and Liverpool to come.[LNB] Kicking out: Carew gives the corner flag a boot[LNB] Toss into the mix an FA Cup tie and two Carling Cup semi-final dates against Blackburn Rovers in the next three weeks and the chances of the same group of players maintaining such form is remote indeed.[LNB]So O'Neill is asking his fringe players to step up, the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Fabian Delph and James Collins.[LNB]'I have some really good players sitting there waiting for their chance,' he said. 'Those chances will undoubtedly come along . . . and pretty soon.[LNB]'The players in the team don't want to rest up. Ask James Milner if he wants to sit it out and you'd get one reply.[LNB]'Whether I will change it next week, I don't know, but chances will come.'[LNB]No complacency: Villa boss Martin O'Neill[LNB] The only goal came after 61 minutes when substitute John Carew on early for Emile Heskey, who will have a scan today on a groin strain headed in an Ashley Young cross. But Carew's celebrations went wrong.[LNB]The striker kicked the corner flag and it flew into the crowd, brushing against seven-year-old Sam Clements, who was wearing a Superman T-shirt with Carew's name on the back.[LNB]Carew immediately checked on the youngster's wellbeing and at full time gave the lad his shirt. Sam said: 'He's my favourite player. When he came over I couldn't believe it he has made my Christmas.'[LNB]Stoke boss Tony Pulis can take heart from this display. He was understandably angry when Mamady Sidibe's header was ruled out for a push on Stephen Warnock.[LNB]This team looks to have improved immeasurably since their last visit to Villa Park just nine months ago and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen added: 'I think our problem is not taking our chances. We were probably the better team, defended ever so well, put pressure on them and I thought maybe just before they scored, they were feeling real frustration.[LNB]'That is sometimes the difference between the top sides and the mid-table teams. When you are on top, you have to make it count.'[LNB] ASTON VILLA
