O'Neill: Villa missed Ashley at Fulham

Feb 4 2008 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA manager Martin O'Neill admitted his side missed Ashley Young's presence in the defeat at Fulham.

The winger was suspended for yesterday's 2-1 defeat, which saw Villa's eight-game unbeaten run come to an end.

"We are going to miss our quality players more than Manchester United are going to miss Wayne Rooney," said O'Neill.

"Ashley is the equivalent of that type of player for us."

O'Neill had no complaints about the outcome after one of Villa's poorest displays under his tutelage.

"We wanted to try and win but we never got going in the first half," he said.

"And even when we took the lead it is debateable whether any side had done enough to get in front.

"We didn't defend well enough a minute or two later so it was disappointing because somewhat remarkably we were playing for fourth place.

"But you wouldn't have seen that in our performance."

"Overall I have been delighted with the players but at Fulham we had an opportunity and we didn't do well enough," O'Neill continued.

"Fulham are a very neat and tidy footballing side but obviously lacking in confidence because they haven't won too many.

"We had gone eight games unbeaten but didn't play well enough.

"We have to accept that even when we got in front. Neither us nor Fulham played particulaly well."