Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill lauds fearless Villa
oss Martin O'Neill believes Aston Villa's 'no fear' attitude has been key to their record-breaking away run in the Premier League. Villa have been the surprise package in the top flight this season and remain firmly on course to claim a UEFA Champions League spot, largely down to their stunning form on their travels.The Midland outfit have won their last seven away fixtures on the bounce, the first time that feat has been achieved in the club's history.And O'Neill, whose side visit Everton for an FA Cup fifth-round clash on Sunday, feels the belief that his players possess away from Villa Park is going to be crucial as the business end of the season approaches.Fearless"We go into games away from home with no fear," O'Neill said."There is no real worry when we travel. We have respect but no fear and we travel with optimism in every game."The away record is incredible. To win 10 of 13 games away from Villa Park is a tremendous achievement."It's the best away record in the Premier League and I've got to give fantastic credit to the players for that."I remember saying several weeks ago that the key to doing well - and competing - is going on winning runs of six, seven, eight games in a row."That's what the top teams do and amazingly that's what the lads have managed.Momentum"They've gone 13 league games unbeaten, picking up 31 points from a possible 39. That's a fantastic effort by the players but we need to keep that up. We need to keep that momentum going."Whether we can sustain our momentum over the next four months is obviously debatable but we are where we are with two thirds of the season gone."There is also such a strong determination and spirit about the team."Meanwhile, O'Neill has conceded the pace Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young and the power of Emile Heskey and John Carew makes Villa more threatening on opposition grounds.He said: "Away from home I would accept the point that we have had a wee bit of room and have been able to exploit that to good effect."At this minute in time, I wouldn't disagree with anyone who says the strongest part of our game is probably on the counter-attack."