Source: Team_Talk
Villa efforts impress O'Neill
Villa looked on course to break into the top four at the beginning of March when they held a six-point lead over fifth-placed Arsenal.
But failure to win any of their last nine Premier League games has seen them slip out of realistic contention and they are now battling with FA Cup finalists Everton for fifth spot.
O'Neill has had to rely on virtually the same players wek in and week out and seen his side's challenge run out of steam.
The former Celtic boss would still regard finishing higher than last season's sixth spot as progress but cannot mask his disappointment at failing to hold onto a place among the elite.
O'Neill said: "We are definitely disappointed that we could not stay with them (the top four). We have flirted with it this season.
"Arsenal at one stage were lagging behind the other three who have year in and year out finished in the top four.
"We got into the position of fourth in the league but it was always going to be difficult (to sustain it) because Arsenal have a bigger, larger and better squad.
"When we played Chelsea last month, we realised at that stage that the games were going to be difficult. We had Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, never mind Tottenham Hotspur, in quick succession.
"The games were endless. We would definitely be disappointed with the number of points we have taken from the last nine games, no question about that.
"We want to drive on. We want to compete. We want to stay with the pack."
But O'Neill points to the Champions League success of the top four this season as an indication of the task facing Villa if they are to achieve that goal.
He said: "Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all got through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League - and three got through to the semi-finals along with Barcelona.
"That proves conclusively what the task ahead is. But, for us to have competed with less players than anyone else, is a remarkable achievement I think."
Villa will bid to end their dismal sequence of results when they host relegation-threatened Hull this evening as they search for their first home victory since early January against West Brom.
O'Neill said: "We are trying to improve our position from last season which would be fantastic. We would like to get more points than last season if at all possible.
"The mere fact is that we would just like to win a game! Performances have been excellent. We would just like to turn them into a victory. That would be excellent."
