O'Neill retains UEFA belief
16 Mar 2008 - 13:22:35
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill still believes European qualification is possible despite Saturday's 2-0 defeat at fellow UEFA Cup contenders Portsmouth.
Pompey leapfrogged Villa into sixth spot in the table after Jermain Defoe's opener and a freak own goal from Nigel Reo-Coker completed a miserable afternoon for the Midlands club.
To make matters worse, Villa also had Olof Mellberg sent off late on for a second yellow card.
O'Neill's side have now failed to win each of their last three games, but the Villa boss still believes UEFA Cup qualification is achievable.
"It has been a poor couple of days for us in terms of results but I felt we were capable of winning today - even when we were 2-0 down at half-time," he said.
"Luck deserted us but it's all about winning games and we've got to get back to that.
"But we won't give up. There are still eight games to go and if we are capable of winning most of them that is what we must try to do.
"There are plenty of twists and turns left even though the margin for error is growing less."