Aston Villa Football Club News

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Alex McLeish

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42,584

O'Neill hails rising star Gabby

12 Nov 2007 - 09:12:44

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Aston Villa's derby matchwinner Gabriel Agbonlahor won high praise from boss Martin O'Neill after his decisive strike in the 2-1 victory over Birmingham City.

Agbonlahor headed home three minutes from time at St Andrew's, after Blues forward Mikael Forssell had cancelled out Liam Ridgewell's own goal against his former club.

O'Neill said: "Gabby is really great. I am delighted with him. He is a handful. He is trying to get it down and play.

"I am really pleased with him and he has improved leaps and bounds in the last 15 months. He had a great first season and there is no second season syndrome with him.

"He has come roaring out this season and is improving all the time. He has a wonderful attitude to the game and is prepared to work.

"I am very pleased with him and pleased for him. It is a great goal to win the game as was his one against Manchester United. He is doing great.

"The game could have gone either way, I thought Birmingham never gave up and when they got the equaliser for a ten-minute period we were on the back foot.

"We knew this was going to be a see-saw game, the game really opened up and Birmingham got the equaliser. I thought the next goal would win the game and I was delighted it was for us."