Tottenham will test our top four chances - James Milner
TOTTENHAM may have collected just one point from nine but James Milner expects a massive test of Villas top-four credentials at White Hart Lane tonight.
And the recent signing from Newcastle has urged his new team-mates to hit the ground running against Juande Ramos slow starters.
Tonight marks the start of a hectic period of seven games in 21 days for Villa and Milner is not fooled by Tottenhams shaky start.
He said: It will be a tough game. Theyve got a lot of quality players and though they havent had the greatest start theyll be looking to kick on now.
Its important for us to make sure we get on top of them early on and hopefully get a good result.
Milner, who helped England Under-21s to a European Championships play-off clash with Wales, continued: Im very hopeful. Weve got a great squad here and with the quality weve got we know we can always go and score goals.
Hopefully we can get on top early doors, use the pace weve got up there and the quality we do have.
Gareth Barry will be coming back buzzing as well from the great results England have had, so hopefully his confidence will filter down through the rest of the squad.
Villa boss Martin ONeill believes Spurs will be a force this season despite collecting only one point from three games so far.
He said: It was a great game last season. On reflection we should have been able to see it through.
To get ourselves into a 4-1 position at the time was terrific, we played some great stuff, scored some great goals and we were in real command of the game.
For us to lose three goals in the last 20 minutes was disappointing. With 20 minutes to go, Id love to be in the same position tonight
But, although Spurs have lost two talented forwards in Berbatov and Keane, theyve used the money very well indeed.
They have got a lot of individual flair in the side which I think, when it is honed together, will make them a real decent out of it.
The thing about having individual flair is that just one of those players can turn the game for them.
It is too soon to say what sort of immediate impact those players will make but I have no doubt about their quality. (Luka) Modric, (David) Bentley, etc. I think theyve got the players.
