Source: SKY_Sports
Warnock impressed by Friedel
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Stephen Warnock has paid tribute to Brad Friedel ahead of his 200th consecutive Premier League appearance.[LNB] The Aston Villa goalkeeper has not missed a top-flight match since 2004 and is set to reach the landmark in Saturday's game against Everton.[LNB]Warnock is astonished that Friedel has managed to chalk up so many matches on the trot while continuing to strive for improvement at the age of 38.[LNB]"To clock up 200 games in a row would be an incredible achievement but we all know that Brad is a quality keeper," said the left-back.[LNB]"You only have to watch him in training and can see his total commitment to being a good and top-class professional.[LNB]"He is always striving to get better - even at the age he is. He always wants to do better."[LNB]Away formVilla's trip to Goodison Park is their third successive away game, while they face another journey to West Ham next Wednesday.[LNB]But Warnock believes Villa have shown enough form on the road to make opponents wary.[LNB]"We are in this run of four away games on the trot which is a test of stamina and resolve but nobody is going to want to play us," he said.[LNB]"We know we've got that confidence in the dressing room so it's for teams to fear us now. We go to people's grounds and they will be fearing us going there."[LNB]ConsistencyHowever, Warnock is also aware of the need for Villa to pick up positive results against all levels of opposition if they are to sustain a challenge for a UEFA Champions League spot.[LNB]He explained: "The fact we beat Liverpool and Chelsea and drew with Man City does send out a message Villa are a force to be reckoned with.[LNB]"But then we have the flip side of it, where we have had defeats against Wigan and Blackburn, and they are the kind of games we need to win as well to prove we are a real force. Hopefully we can prove that in the coming weeks.[LNB]"Overall, it is looking good at the moment but we know it is an important time coming up until around Christmas time in a few weeks.[LNB]"We need to keep in there around the festive period and see where we are coming out of the Christmas period."[LNB]
