Megson hails Villa achievement

24 April 2009 13:11
At the beginning of March, Martin O'Neill's side were lying in fourth spot in the table and six points clear of a stuttering Arsenal.[LNB]But they head to the Reebok Stadium on Saturday with their Champions League hopes in tatters after a miserable run of eight league matches without a victory.[LNB]Yet Megson believes Villa, a club rejuvenated since American Randy Lerner assumed control in 2006, should be applauded for threatening the status quo at the top of the table.[LNB]"To even get up there with a suggestion that they might finish in the top four is an achievement in itself, given the strength of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal," said Megson.[LNB]"I think Mr Lerner coming in has changed everything for Aston Villa and their financial resources.[LNB]"They've been able to spend but the money still needs to be spent in the right way and they've got some terrific players and a fantastic squad."[LNB]Bolton had Champions League ambitions themselves under Sam Allardyce not so long ago but they have spent the last two seasons fighting relegation.[LNB]Last year's battle was fraught but successful and though they are not yet safe, the Trotters look all but certain to extend their top-flight residence to a ninth successive year.[LNB]Megson admits the likes of United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are out of his side's reach.[LNB]He is more concerned with finishing above fellow strugglers Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland and Newcastle.[LNB]"There are three leagues within the Premier League," said Megson.[LNB]"The top four who qualify for the Champions League every year and the likes of Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham have spent a lot of money and have got the resources to go and do it again.[LNB]"There is the third group who just want to stay in the Premier League.[LNB]"To be perfectly frank we don't look at the top four and I don't think anyone looks at us as being able to break into that.[LNB]"All the teams that came up this year spent more money than us in the transfer market.[LNB]"They had to in order to give themselves an opportunity to survive.[LNB]"We are in a position whereby we are looking to do the best with the resources that we've got.[LNB]"Everybody is aware of that and everybody has to accept that.[LNB]"We've got some terrific players, we've got some players who I'm sure are the envy of other clubs.[LNB]"We've got to try and keep them and add to them - hopefully we can do that as a Premier League club in the summer.[LNB]"It makes life difficult but it's interesting. As you've seen with the games we've had in the past fortnight, including our 4-3 defeat at Chelsea, it shows what a great product the Premier League is."[LNB]Megson will assess the fitness of defenders Ricardo Gardner and Danny Shittu ahead of the visit of Villa.[LNB]Gardner limped out of last week's 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth after only 12 minutes with a hamstring injury and Shittu missed the trip to Fratton Park altogether with a calf strain.[LNB]Yet Megson is hopeful both men will be available, leaving midfield knee injury victims Mark Davies and Joey O'Brien as the Trotters' only absentees.[LNB][LNB] Aston Villa 6/4, Bolton 7/4, Draw 12/5  

Source: Team_Talk