Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill keeping expectations in check
Villa climbed into third place behind Chelsea and Manchester United as a result of their third successive league win, courtesy of Emile Heskey's first-half strike and James Milner's thunderbolt after the break.[LNB]However, O'Neill insists there is too far to go for Villa yet to be considered as genuine challengers for a Champions League berth.[LNB]After Tuesday night's 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light, he said: "At this stage, when we are not even halfway through the league, there is a general tendency when you win a couple of games to get incredibly excited about something.[LNB]"We had a taste of it from the other side - we lost the opening game of the season against Wigan at home and there was plenty of gloom about the place as well.[LNB]"I tend, if I can, to try to keep a level head about things.[LNB]"My own view, if you are asking me about it, is that the top four teams, who have been the top four teams for a long, long time bar one season when Everton broke it, those four sides over a 38-game season will eventually command those positions.[LNB]"Having said that, Manchester City are very strong - they have only lost one game this season - and Tottenham, despite the hiccup the other day (against Wolves), are very strong.[LNB]"Our squad has got better, we have a wee bit more strength in depth in it, and that will be tested over the next couple of months."[LNB]Villa, who had already hit the crossbar through Stewart Downing's 16th-minute free-kick, took the lead eight minutes later, although Sunderland contributed to their own downfall.[LNB]George McCartney's aimless pass was picked off by Stiliyan Petrov, who fed Milner, and the midfielder slid the ball perfectly into the path of Heskey, who gleefully thumped home.[LNB]Brad Friedel had to make a fine 37th-minute save from Andy Reid, who then passed up a glorious opportunity four minutes after the restart.[LNB]However, Ashley Young hit the post with 57 minutes gone and the game was effectively over four minutes later when Milner marked his return to the north east with a magnificent second.[LNB]The former Newcastle man picked up possession 30 yards out and, having looked up briefly, unleashed a missile that sped high past Marton Fulop and into the top corner.[LNB]O'Neill said: "Milner has just been fantastic since he arrived at the football club. Last season, he interchanged with Ashley [Young] left and right.[LNB]"He has come into the middle now and he has just been colossal for us, colossal.[LNB]"From midfield, it is his third goal in five games. He deserves it as well because he is an exceptional fella."[LNB]To rub salt into Sunderland's wounds, skipper Lorik Cana, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor, repeated the dose with Milner this time the victim and was dismissed.[LNB]Black Cats manager Steve Bruce, who has tipped Villa for a top-four finish, said: "We were beaten by the better team, I have to say that.[LNB]"There were two defining moments: we gave a poor goal away in the first half, surrendered possession and gifted them the goal.[LNB]"In the second half, we started brightly enough and we had a big chance when Andy Reid had a chance - if that goes in, it might be a different game.[LNB]"But my opinion hasn't changed - if there is going to be one [team] that's going to be breaking into it [the top four], they are going to be there.[LNB]"They are big, strong, powerful - you look at their bench and they have got unbelievable strength in depth.[LNB]"I think this is Martin's fourth season and they are unrecognisable to where they were when he took over. The progress he has made and his players, it's an unbelievable difference."[LNB][LNB]
