Villa boss is looking on the bright side

Dec 11 2006 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O'Neill says Villa head to Bramall Lane tonight in good shape as they look for a first win in a month.

Draws at Wigan and Portsmouth have sandwiched a home stalemate against Middlesbrough and home defeat to Manchester City.

That has seen Villa sink to ninth in the table but O'Neill has been pleased with all but 45 minutes of his side's performances.

He said: "People are saying we are drawing a lot of games but it is better drawing than being beaten and I think we are playing reasonably well.

"It was frustrating we didn't play well in the first half against Manchester City and let that game slip from our grasp.

"Every single side can look back at games with an element of frustration. I could cover a number of games but, listen, we are where we are."

Villa hold a one hundred per cent record over Sheffield United in the Premiership.

The two clubs met four times between August 1992 and April 1994 with Villa winning the lot, scoring eight goals and conceding just two in the process.

They were ultimately out-fought on the ground in the FA Cup two years ago in front of the BBC cameras.

Only Juan Pablo Angel, Olof Mellberg, Gavin McCann, Liam Ridgewell and Steven Davis who were involved that afternoon are likely to feature tonight.

O'Neill is expecting a battle. "Sheffield United are very determined and made in the mould of the manager. They will be very hard to beat", he said.

O'Neill is forced into at least one change with Gareth Barry suspended.

"Being without Gareth is a blow and we will have to combat that, like we have had to combat so many different things this season."