O’Neill Happy With Hard Fought Draw

Martin O’Neill was asked by Sky if he’d have taken four points from the last two away games (Everton last weekend, Wigan today) and he said he’d have snapped your hand off for that points tally.

He told the official site: ‘Going into the last two games I’d have settled for four points from six.’ adding ‘This was a hard-fought point and not too many teams come here and take anything from the game. We’ve had to work hard and were rewarded for all that effort and commitment. When you consider we were without Gavin McCann and Stiliyan Petrov, the achievement is all the more impressive.’

‘The lads who’ve come in have not let us down and players like Isaiah will only benefit from this experience. Filling-in for players like McCann and Petrov is a man-sized job. Wigan made a good start and might have been in front after just a minute. I thought Thomas’ save might have galvanised us, but it had the opposite effect and they made a great start. I do think we gradually got into the game and there were times when we were a threat on the break.’

‘There weren’t too many chances though and I think Wigan would have felt hard done by if we’d nicked a winner as we finished strongly. In the end though, I would have settled for four points from six going into away games at Everton and Wigan. That’s a pleasing return and we’re still up there in the top half of the table.’

Villa lie in 5th place on 22 points, equal with Arsenal all but for goal difference, oh and the game in hand they have !