Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill hails 'exceptional' Young
England coach Fabio Capello saw Young torment Wolves full-back Ronald Zubar in the Premier League clash at Villa Park on Saturday and supply a string of telling crosses.[LNB]But Villa needed an 83rd-minute goal from John Carew - his second of the game - to rescue the game after Wolves had moved ahead through Jody Craddock and a James Milner own goal.[LNB]O'Neill said: "I thought Ashley was exceptional. He was mesmeric. If the England manager was here, that can only be good news for Ashley.[LNB]"He really was magnificent. He made the first goal for his but his overall performance was top class. He delivered so many dangerous crosses."[LNB]O'Neill was disappointed with the reaction of the crowd at half-time and then cupped his ear towards supporters housed behind the dugout at the final whistle.[LNB]He said: "The opening 20-odd minutes was as good a display as we have produced in recent times.[LNB]"It was scintillating stuff and you should have got long odds on us being booed off at half-time.[LNB]"But that's the nature of things. I suppose a Carling Cup final appearance, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and battling for a top-four place in the league is maybe what is expected to happen here every year.[LNB]"Does it upset me? I expect it. It is more the nature of the game nowadays than ever before.[LNB]"I don't think it is just an Aston Villa thing but not every single side has reached a cup final, a semi-final and with nine games to go is in the hunt for the top four."[LNB]O'Neill had warned before the game that Wolves would provide stern opposition and his fears were justified.[LNB]He said: "There are no easy games in the division. Maybe if Chelsea, with their fantastic home record, draw at home with the bottom of the league then it would be a surprise.[LNB]"But in this division there are so many twists and turns I am sure the fight for a Champions League spot will go on to the end of the season.[LNB]"In terms of the effort the team put in, I am not despondent at all. It would have been great to keep the opening 25 minutes going but it was a different game in the second half and we had to fight every inch."[LNB]O'Neill revealed that striker Gabriel Agbonlahor had missed the game through a foot injury suffered in training on Friday but it is too early to determine how long he will be sidelined.[LNB]He said: "Gabby stubbed his foot and opened up the ligaments in the joint which is a real blow for him.[LNB]"Is it a one-game injury? I don't know but it was still very sore this morning."[LNB]Wolves boss Mick McCarthy saluted a "terrific performance" from his team as they took their points tally to four from successive away games with Burnley and Villa to edge further away from the bottom three.[LNB]He said: "When Villa's first goal went in, I suppose everyone expected them to go on and win by four or five goals.[LNB]"It was nice to kick against the trend and it was a terrific performance and a fabulous point.[LNB]"The last two results have been good but we have given ourselves encouragement with our actual performances in the last six or seven games.[LNB]"We actually matched Chelsea and Manchester United most of the time and got nothing. It is just nice to have results to back performances up.[LNB]"I thought their first goal was offside but for the second one we defended badly. Let's be honest, Villa had their chances but we also could have won it."[LNB][LNB]
