Aston Villa FC

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Cup replay a worry for O'Neill

15 Feb 2010 - 08:32:44

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill accepted that an FA Cup replay with Crystal Palace is not ideal as his side start their build-up to the Carling Cup Final against Manchester United.

Villa rescued a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park thanks to a late header from captain Stiliyan Petrov, leaving them facing a replay in the midweek before their Wembley date with the Red Devils.

O'Neill told his club's official website: "With five or six minutes left in the game we were trailing 2-1, so I'm pretty pleased to be in the hat for the sixth round.

"I thought Crystal Palace played with a lot of determination and a lot of spirit, which I expected having seen them play against Wolves and I was hoping we would be able to respond to that.

"I think, for the most part, we did that. I thought we lost our way a bit in the second half after a pretty sprightly start and Palace got the goal to make it 2-1. It was a long way back after that.

"We've got a replay in the week of the League Cup final, which is not ideal but it is preferable to not being in the tie.

"I think we would have to negotiate Burnley first of all, that is the next task next week.

"We will see how we come out of that game in terms of injuries and things like that, then I will see.

"But Stiliyan Petrov didn't risk life and limb there to head the ball into the net, to give it up easily.

"Ideally it would have been great to have a free week to prepare for the cup final, but it is not going to happen and we'll see."