Aston Villa must work hard to beat Everton, warns Martin O'Neill

Apr 25 2008 By Bill Howell

MANAGER Martin O'Neill has warned his sizzling Villa side that despite recent results Everton are not on the slide.

Villa have packed a punch in recent weeks with 15 goals in three huge wins to close the gap on the Toffees to just three points.

Indeed, a win at Goodison Park in front of the TV cameras will take Villa above David Moyes' side on goal-difference just a few weeks after their defeat at Manchester United had left them eight points behind having played a game more.

Everton have picked up just five points from six games after losing to Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup.

But O'Neill is expecting them to severely test his side.

"Everton have had a terrific season," he said.

"They have been in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup where they went out on penalties and they have been thrusting forward all this year.

"Ten days ago we were still talking about them catching Liverpool and although that won't happen now, Everton are not on the slide to me."

O'Neill has long since held a belief that Everton's revival under Moyes, who he has transformed from relagtion candidates to Champions League qualifiers in 2005, is a blueprint that should be copied at Villa.

"Everton are the one side in recent years that have broken into the top four, albeit for one year," he said.

"We've got different styles but in terms of their doggedness and their determination, they have tried to stay there.

"I know the following year after they finished fourth was a tough year for them but they have had a really good time in recent years."