Martin O'Neill heaps praise on Aston Villa

Apr 22 2008

MARTIN O’Neill has heaped praise on his side for scorching to their best goals return in the first 35 games of a top-flight season for 72 years.

But the Villa boss admits that his side have to tighten up in defence next season in a bid to turn tight games their way.

“People know me, and that I will always play things down”, he said. “I think the team should take some sort of credit at the minute. We are an

attacking force.

"Despite some indifferent performances against Middlesbrough and Sunderland, we are generally capable of scoring a goal.

“When we get into full flow we are really exciting and we want to try and solidify that and make us a bit stronger defensively and conceding a goal.

“So that maybe on a day when we miss chance or don’t create them, a 1-0 goes our way instead of the other way.

“For all Manchester United’s attacking flair there season was built around a series of 1-0 wins.

“Now that sounds kind of boring. But it is part of the game.”

Jimmy McMullen’s side scored 67goals- the same as O’Neill’s current crop- in their first 35 games of 1935/36 but won only 13 games to finish

second-bottom above Blackburn.

O’Neill added: “Going forwards we are a threat. We are capable of scoring goals.

“I have been asked why we have had this surge in form. I know we had the three scoreless games, but for the most part we have always scored

goals and at any stage this season we have always been up there with the Spurs, the Liverpool’s and the Chelsea’s.

“We have just conceded too many- but that is almost inevitable if you are trying to attack in the manner that we are doing.”

The tally has only been bettered three times since: in the Football League South in 1945/46 Alex Massie’s team scored an incredible 96 goals in

35 games; in 1959/60 Joe Mercer’s side scored 78 in 35 games as they won the Division Two title and in 1936/37 McMullen and Jimmy Hogan’s

team knocked in 76 in 35 games.

Villa’s 15 goal haul against Bolton, Derby and Blues is their best for almost 49 years since they hit 21 in three games against Charlton (11-1),

Bristol City (5-0) and Scunthorpe United (5-0).

O’Neill added: “15 in three is amazing and now only Manchester United have scored more goals than us.”