O'Neill: Forget Man Utd result, this Villa team is learning

Jan 7 2008 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA'S woeful record against Manchester United since August 1995, their last meaningful victory, was not something manager Martin O'Neill wanted to dwell on after their 13th successive defeat.

"I can only worry about the record we have against them while I am at the football club. I cannot worry about whether United have beaten us eight or nine years ago, or two years ago, or four or six years ago,'' he said.

"Or whether all that adds up to a hundred victories for them. Like everything else, those things are capable of being changed. And I thought we were capable of changing it.

"I actually thought we started off not too badly. But we didn't put them under enough pressure in terms of shots at goal and goalmouth incidents.

"But right throughout the game I thought we were capable of winning it.

"United are a top-class side and have seen these situations before in Champions League games, Cup games, Premier League games.

"They have not only great players but very experienced players.

"We are trying to learn. The top four have big squads to choose from because they deserve it. They are heavily involved in European competition and this idea of using players and changing the side around is their prerogative. They have earned that right.

"We are making progress – there is no question of that. We have some really important league games to go."