Source: Eurosport
Time for Villa to plug leaks - Boss
Martin O'Neill has called on Aston Villa to add defensive steel to their attacking flair as they look to arrest their poor form at Bolton.Villa have been involved in some thrilling encounters in recent weeks, most notably the 3-2 defeat at Manchester United and the 3-3 home draw with Everton.They have shown the ability to unlock even the best of defences via the likes of John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey.But an 11-game run without a win has been largely due to some poor defending with Villa leaking 25 goals in that period and failing to keep a single clean sheet.Ahead of Saturday's trip to the Reebok Stadium, O'Neill said: "We have played brilliantly in the last few games going forward. We have scored goals against Manchester United and Everton - which other teams have struggled to do."In all honesty, we could scored five or six against West Ham last weekend without any real trouble."But, unfortunately at the moment, we are leaking one or two goals at bad moments - and it's costing us."The standard of football has been very high indeed. We now need to play with the same gusto going forward but iron things out defensively. That will give us a chance."We now need to get back on track and get back to winning football games again. We were doing that fairly regularly some months ago."O'Neill added: "I believe we deserve the reputation as one of country's best footballing teams."What we have to try and improve is being harder to play against without relinquishing that lovely ability we possess to go forward."That is a fine balancing act. We lack the sheer professionalism that endures those top sides like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United and I'm hoping that will come."For example, Manchester United like playing against us because we don't try and close the game down and that's something in future we would like to try to do without compromising too much in terms of our attacking play."O'Neill has again reiterated the need for Villa to look to further strengthen in the summer if they are to sustain their encouraging rate of progress.He is aware the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham are likely to embark on major spending sprees and will speak with club owner Randy Lerner about future plans in the next couple of weeks.O'Neill said: "If we are going to keep going in the way we are doing, then we will be trying to improve the side."It will not be easy next season. Manchester City will be very strong. They have got the wherewithal and the financial clout to do something about it."Tottenham Hotspur spent big in January just to get out of trouble so you can imagine, with the hope and expectation of Harry Redknapp going there, that they will have the wherewithal."I really think this summer will be very important indeed and also very difficult."Myself and Randy (Lerner) will speak. If it is not this week, it will be the week after. We will get a chance the next time he is over from America."Agbonlahor is set to return against the Trotters after recovering from a hamstring injury but right-back Luke Young is a major doubt with a foot problem.[LNB]
