Martin O’Neill On Watford Result

Martin O’Neill told the press after the Watford match ‘That was a tough, tough game.’
Villa drew 0-0 with the Hornets and both keepers, Ben Foster and Thomas Sorenson, had much to do with the score.

O’Neill said: ‘It was a tough, tough game today and that’s what we expected. Watford are very direct and this will be a tough place for people to come. They can be very physical – all well within the laws of the game – and they put us under real pressure as the game wore on. I felt we would be OK if we could get a goal in front and we might have done just that in the first-half. But the goal wouldn’t come.’

‘The keeper (Foster) played well for them in the first-half, just as Thomas Sorensen played well for us after the break. We did have to withstand pressure in the second-half, but the fans helped us through a sticky period and we got a point out of the game. The great thing is that we’re still unbeaten. There are things we can work on and we’ve got another busy week coming up.’

He also told PremPlus after the match ‘I would have liked to have gone in front but it wasn’t to be and I knew we were going to be under severe pressure in the second half. We are probably pleased to have got something out of the game. It’s a bit frustrating because on Sunday we were coming away frustrated because we hadn’t won at West Ham. But overall I’m exceptionally pleased with the team. They’re putting absolutely everything into the game. They’ve got a bit of determination, a wee bit of skill too. With a good finish we might be in a better position, but we’re doing fine.’

He also said there was nothing wrong with how Watford played the physical, long ball game saying they were within the rules to do so!