Downing wants Villa response

31 December 2009 14:45
Martin O'Neill's side surrendered their top-four spot in the Premier League after being beaten 3-0 at Arsenal and then 1-0 at home to Liverpool via a last gasp goal from Fernando Torres.[LNB]Downing is aware all eyes will be on Villa to see if they can recover from these setbacks ahead of Saturday's home FA Cup clash with Blackburn and the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Ewood Park on Tuesday.[LNB]The England winger said: "It was disappointing the way we lost to Liverpool right at the end.[LNB]"I thought we responded quite well after the Arsenal game and played some really nice stuff - and we definitely didn't deserve to lose that game.[LNB]"It was a disappointed dressing room but we've got some big games coming up so we can't reflect on what happened too much. We have to ready for those matches.[LNB]"We've been on a good run and everyone is expecting us to win every game, but you are going to lose games and it is how you react from that.[LNB]"We have lost and everyone is asking 'how are we going to respond?' and we have to do that in the next games.[LNB]"We can still go into the New Year in a positive frame. We've lost two games. It is not the end of the world.[LNB]"We have to move on and put the two defeats behind us and we have the FA Cup and a Carling Cup semi-final to look forward to."[LNB]Downing believes Villa boss O'Neill will want to do well in the FA Cup despite the carrot of a Champions League spot via a top-four finish in the league.[LNB]And he knows Villa can take nothing for granted after losing 2-1 to Rovers at Ewood Park earlier in the campaign.[LNB]Downing said: "The league is important to us but an FA Cup run can also help and I am sure the gaffer will be taking the FA Cup very seriously.[LNB]"Blackburn have beaten us already this season so we can't take anything for granted. People will be trying to make us favourites but we know it is going to be a tough game.[LNB]"We will be playing Blackburn three times in little over two weeks and sometimes you can cancel each other out but, especially on our part, I think the manager might use the squad a little bit."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk