Source: SKY_Sports
Carew - Form affecting us
Aston Villa striker John Carew has admitted the club's slump in form has had a psychological effect on the players during the latter stages of games.[LNB] After a brilliant first half of this season, fifth-placed Villa are currently 12 matches in all competitions without a victory.[LNB]And Carew has conceded the run has played on the minds of his team-mates, after they relinquished a winning position at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.[LNB]He said in the Birmingham Mail: "We are still playing with confidence but when it comes to the 80th minute, maybe something happens in the players' heads.[LNB]"The psychological part is a big part of the game and we have been struggling to hold on to victory a couple of times."[LNB]Laursen lossMeanwhile, Villa boss Martin O'Neill has lamented the loss of captain Martin Laursen, who has been sidelined for most of the second half of the campaign with a knee injury.[LNB]O'Neill said: "We have missed Martin greatly. We have won matches without him this season but his overall contribution and absence has been a big loss.[LNB]"We have conceded 26 goals in 12 games but had only conceded three in the previous eight games when Martin hadn't played.[LNB]Lion"But the overall picture is that we have missed him. We have missed his presence, his ability to score some goals for us, and he was as brave as a lion.[LNB]"His overall presence is what we have missed. He goes for everything. He has got a big heart.[LNB]"The ironic thing is he has had no problems with the other knee which is the one that gave him the problems throughout the last few years.[LNB]"He looks after himself brilliantly and, after the West Ham game in December, if you had said he would only play one more league game (against West Brom) I would have been really surprised."[LNB]
