Source: Team_Talk
Osman wary of 'wounded' Villans
Everton midfielder Leon Osman is wary of an Aston Villa backlash this weekend following their 6-0 drubbing by Newcastle United.[LNB] The Merseysiders travel to Villa Park on Sunday in search of their first Premier League win of the season after collecting just one point in two games.[LNB]They face a side in turmoil on and off the field after a 6-0 thrashing by Newcastle in their last outing and the recent departures of manager Martin O'Neill and star player James Milner.[LNB]Yet Osman is not reading too much into any of that and is expecting a stern test from a side that finished sixth in the table last season.[LNB]The 29-year-old said: "That result they had at the weekend probably makes it more difficult for us.[LNB]"They will be a bit wounded and will want to come out and show it was a one-off.[LNB]"We are going in there confident and hopefully we can come away with the right result.[LNB]"It has not been the perfect start so the sooner we put that right the better."[LNB]After losing at Blackburn and being held by Wolves, Everton notched their first win of the season last night as they eased past Huddersfield 5-1 in the Carling Cup.[LNB]Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell put Everton on course for a place in the third round before a John Heitinga own goal gave the League One side hope at Goodison Park.[LNB]That was extinguished as Jermaine Beckford restored a two-goal advantage from the penalty spot and Louis Saha and Osman, who stood in as captain, wrapped up the scoring late on.[LNB]The only Everton player not to enjoy the night was Heitinga, who followed up his own goal by missing a penalty after Huddersfield's Lee Peltier was sent off.[LNB]"Any team just wants to get that first win under their belts," said Osman. "We've done that now so we can look onwards and push on.[LNB]"The Blackburn and Wolves results were frustrating but the season is still young - we are not losing our heads at the minute.[LNB]"It is not the perfect start we wanted but we have got a lot of games to put that right in."[LNB]The performances of midfield pair Fellaini and Rodwell were particularly impressive, coming after they returned to starting line-up following bench duties against Wolves.[LNB]That gives manager David Moyes plenty to ponder as he considers his side to face Villa.[LNB]"It's a headache he wants," said Osman. "We are all firing and all scoring and popping up with performances.[LNB]"It's a great credit to the players that we are all fighting to get in that starting XI.[LNB]"It is quite a big squad and we are starting to get it together here now.[LNB]"Everyone wants to be in that starting XI - that is a nice thing to have and hopefully that will push us on."
