O'Neill: Guided Villa into Europe
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O'Neill delight at Euro qualification
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill spelt out his delight at securing European football for a second successive season as Hull were beaten 1-0.
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John Carew struck his 14th goal of the campaign 11 minutes before the interval to lift Villa back into fifth spot in the Premier League.
But more importantly the three points ensured that Villa will be competing in the revamped Europa League.
But Hull continue to find themselves deep in relegation trouble after another setback means they have taken just two points from the last seven matches.
O'Neill said: "This victory has confirmed European football for the second year running which is an achievement in itself.
"Some years ago this club used to feast on European seasons but there has been a bit of a famine recently.
"We can't finish worse than sixth - the same position as last year - but we can still get fifth spot and that is the aim.
"There is obviously a tinge of disappointment at not keeping the battle going for fourth place but maybe now we can throw the shackles off and try and win the last few games."
O'Neill was full of praise for Carew who has been in outstanding form since returning from a three-month layoff with a back problem.
The Villa boss said: "John is doing really well. He seems to have had no recurrence of the back situation and he is as fit as he has been for a while.
"I'm very pleased with him and he is thriving on being so confident and his popularity with the crowd."
Hull boss Phil Brown felt his side had missed an opportunity to move clear of the danger zone after the weekend defeats of Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom.
He said: "The bottom three got nothing from their games and this was an opportunity to put some daylight between ourselves and those clubs.
"We frustrated Villa and the longer the game stayed at 1-0, the more chance we had of getting something from it. This is an opportunity missed.
"From the last three games of the season, we have got to score some goals and get a win. I can't ask any more from my players in terms of spirit and commitment.
"I can demand more quality but pressure cooker situations like tonight can effect players.
"We stuck at our game plan but lacked the bit of quality you need at times until the final 15 minutes."
Aston Villa 1 - 0 Hull
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davemp : "...Fantastic result today lads!! Feel disgusted tho by the taunts to Wayne Bridge! Guy deserved none of that!! Back to the tigers tho if we keep playing like that, we will be fine!!..." view full comment
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Your Comments
platty (Aston Villa fan)
"top draw progress to me well done Villa/MON, qualified twice in one year!! when the last time was about ten years ago, thats progress, 17 players used all season in all comps, thats silly but MON has his ways of getting the best out of em so to me again thats progress, the team play as a TEAM working for one another, now thats progress, possibly finishing fifth, thats progress, putting the frightners on Wenger and the Gooners for a few months, thats progress as I have never seen so many Arsenal fans on our page at any one time, LOL, two strikers getting into double figures for the season wow now that really is progress, get the jist folks ? kayos (Aston Villa fan)just though i'd back you up fellas!! - - UTV"
Spennatova (Aston Villa fan)
"People still bleating on about our UEFA Cup farce? Man, we got over that a long time ago. The club and the fans have all hopefully learnt from what happened and basically, the sun still shines out of MON's backside. Next season our younger players should be that little bit better and we'll hopefully have a better squad too. Good times ahead at AVFC. UTV!"
dublinbhoy
"As a Celtic fan I think MON will always be a legand, hope Villa go on and win the Europa cup next season and break into the top 4, he worked wonders with the smallest squad in the EPL. People like Cowan only hate him cause of his success with Celtic"
jwcase
"the irony of course cowan is that o'neill's trying to help little scottish teams like yours get in the premiership. If villa played in the SPL they'd kick u out of the UCL, then he'd take a **** on you"
Cazual (Middlesbrough fan)
"Villa nothing to play for - 3 points for the boro? Probably not because we are rubbish!"
ari (Liverpool fan)
"can we have barry now?"
Tha_Untouchable (Manchester United fan)
"waaaa????? is this not the man who fielded a weaker team so he could get knocked out and concentrate on the premier league 4th spot and still come 5th? oh well whatever makes him happy. Wicked manager tho..."
nav1181 (Liverpool fan)
"hahahahahahahah he played second string team in the uefa cup to get into the champions league and cause they chocked in the league he wants to be in the uefa cup again, villa dont deserve champions league football"
guyuman (Everton fan)
"whatever it is, you got to give credit to MON for bringing a team of youngster to such credible achievements. He is a poor man's Wenger. But at least he brings english players up.
england needs more of such clubs (Villa, Everton...) that introduce young english blood into the EPL. we need more rio ferdinands, wayne rooneys, gabriel agbonlahors, theo walcotts, dan goslings... if we want the next world cup"
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