Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill - Finish was nervy
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill admitted to feeling a little nervous in the second half of his side's 2-0 victory over Portsmouth.
Villa took a comfortable lead against bottom-of-the-table Pompey but had to fend off a spell of pressure from their opponents towards the end of the contest.
After taking the time to hail Gabriel Agbonlahor's first-half strike, O'Neill revealed how he saw the visitors gradually creep into the game.
"Gabby's goal was just absolutely fantastic, out of this world," the former Celtic boss told Sky Sports after the match.
"And I felt that we had a great chance in the second-half to have made it 3-0 and their goalkeeper's made a fantastic save.
Saves
"I thought that might be a turning point but having said that a few minutes later Brad has made a great, great save for us.
"I felt at that stage Portsmouth are starting getting on top, I thought they were committing men forward and gambling everything and we got a little bit tired and they had the lion's share of the game at that stage.
"I was kind of pleased to hear the final whistle at the end but I think that's maybe a slight over-exaggeration because in the first-half I thought there were little moments in the game where we showed what we were capable of doing."
Centre-backs James Collins and Richard Dunne both made home debuts on Saturday and looked solid under an aerial bombardment from Paul Hart's side.
O'Neill says the good start the new boys have made has added to the amiable dressing room spirit at Villa Park.
High SpiritsHe added: "They've done exceptionally well in the two games and they were under severe pressure in the air today so they coped admirably and I was obviously delighted.
"There's a good feeling in the dressing room at this minute of course, obviously, if you win some matches there's obviously a good feeling, it's not that clever when you're losing.
"But it's been a good run that we're on at the moment and I obviously am looking forward to Wednesday evening and next week as well."
However, the manager's highest praise was reserved for livewire striker Agbonlahor, who hit the back of the net for the third league game running on the stroke of half-time.
"He has been fantastic for us in these matches, absolutely fantastic," O'Neill said.
"Whether he's playing with a partner beside him, John today, whether he plays on his own his work rate is back to where he was, so we're back two seasons ago.
"And his goals are simply sublime so long may it continue for him, if he stays fit he is a serious threat to anyone."
