Martin O'Neill hails his Villa set-piece stars

Jan 14 2008 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O'Neill is not getting carried away by Villa's lofty league position.

His team are three points clear of eighth-placed Blackburn and are now level on points with Liverpool, their fourth-placed opponents next Monday. But the boss is not interested in the table.

"We are sixth in the league, but you drive around statistics any way you want," he said.

"We deserved to win the game (against Reading) and we played well.

"I am really pleased with the team. They have shown a real aptitude, a great desire but, as important as anything, they have shown ability."

As has now been well-documented, Villa are kings of the set-piece with 20 of their 40 goals this season coming from free-kicks or corners - and six of the last seven arriving that way.

"People are talking about our set-pieces but you have to be able to deliver the ball - and when you have someone as brilliant as Ashley Young, then he can put it on anyone's head," added O'Neill.