Aston Villa Football Club News

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

• Ground:Villa Park
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O'Neill rues defensive display

13 Apr 2009 - 10:33:59

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Martin O'Neill admitted Aston Villa were again found wanting defensively during Sunday's 3-3 draw with Everton.

Second-half goals from James Milner and Gareth Barry from the penalty spot earned the Midlands club a share of the spoils against another side with Champions League qualification ambitions.

Villa avoided slipping to a fifth straight league defeat, but afterwards O'Neill bemoaned the fact that his side had left themselves with a mountain to climb by conceding three goals.

"I thought we were fantastic. Going forward we were an absolute dream, but defensively we were not so clever," he said.

"It was high entertainment and a fantastic game and we should have won it at the death with a great chance.

"We fought back from both 2-0 and 3-1 down. In terms of character and determination, in the run we have been in, it was fantastic.

"We went to Old Trafford and played how we have most of the season away from home.

"We got great confidence from that and took it on this afternoon - at least going forward.

"However, we conceded three goals at home. You shouldn't need to score four goals to win a game at home."

Meanwhile, O'Neill is refusing to give up in the pursuit of Arsenal in the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot.

Villa are now eight points adrift of the in-form Gunners with just six games remaining in the season.

He added: "In terms of catching Arsenal, we are certainly not going to down tools and give up the fight.

"If I look at it after their win at Wigan (4-1 on Saturday), I accept it is going to be hard. But we won't give up because Arsenal still have some very difficult games to play.

"I certainly haven't given up hope - not at all."