O'Neill: Villa were stodgy against Blackburn

Jan 28 2008 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O'Neill was pleased with the point against Blackburn.

"We battled to a point and I was pleased to get something out of the game.

"We were stodgy at the start and didn't create enough chances.

"Blackburn flooded the midfield and it's their right to do that.

"But the onus is on us as the home side to try and break them down," O'Neill said.

"Blackburn made it difficult for us. People forget that if they had hung on for the win, they would have been level on points with us.

"We had a chance to go fourth but that's gone now. These games are really tough."

O'Neill was less pleased with Rovers' penalty award.

"Scott Carson made a great save from the penalty in the first half, although I have watched the incident again and I think it is a pretty harsh decision.

"If we had been awarded a similar one at the other end, I would have counted myself very lucky."