Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill urges home improvement
Martin O'Neill insists Aston Villa need to improve their home form next season if they want to challenge for a place in the UEFA Champions League.[LNB] Villa have enjoyed a fine campaign on their travels and it looked like the 10 away wins could land them a place in next year's elite European competition.[LNB]But O'Neill's side have slipped out of the top four and are currently fighting off Everton to finish the season in fifth place after failing to pick up a win since February.[LNB]The Midlanders take on Hull City on Monday night looking for their first home victory in nearly four months[LNB]And former Celtic boss O'Neill has admitted the Villa Park form has let them down this term[LNB]"There is no question that we haven't picked up enough points at Villa Park," the Irishman said.[LNB]"I am fearful of analysing too much what has happened, because we were winning so many matches away, it didn't seem that significant.[LNB]"That really speaks volumes for the team in terms of not being frightened to go to any stadium.[LNB]Unlucky"My own view is that we have been a bit unlucky here in matches we should have won at home and I am thinking about Fulham, Wigan and Stoke in particular.[LNB]"They all ended in draws when they should have been victories and an extra six points would have meant we would still be challenging Arsenal.[LNB]"Those points are proving very important at the end of the season and they all tot up. The home form is something we will try and address next season."[LNB]But O'Neill insisted: "It is not a case of the players being frightened of playing at home. It is absolutely the opposite.[LNB]"They love it and the crowd have been really brilliant.[LNB]"The atmosphere at Villa Park has been fantastic in recent games. Even when we were 2-0 and 3-1 down to Everton recently, they stayed with us."[LNB]Villa have gone 12 games without a win and O'Neill can understand how Hull have found it difficult to end their own recent dismal run of form which has left them hovering just above the relegation zone.[LNB]TrepidationHe said: "Hull would probably have gone with the rest of the promoted sides into the season with excitement and a bit of trepidation.[LNB]"They had such a fantastic start, after nine or 10 games they had more points than Manchester United. They were very heady days. But it is a long season.[LNB]"I am sure they thought because of the start, while it was still going to be a bit of an endurance test, that they would get to around 40 points more quickly than they have done.[LNB]"What happens is you lose confidence and start to want to know where the next win comes through and what is particularly unappealing is when you play very well in a game and get beaten.[LNB]"Then it starts to bother you. The league is unforgiving. It is difficult if you get on a losing streak. It is hard to pull it around.[LNB]"I am sure when they got the last minute goal to win against Fulham at Craven Cottage they thought 'that's it' that it was the little bit of luck they needed, and it just hasn't proved that way.".[LNB]
