Aston Villa will respect minnows Gillingham - O'Neill

Jan 3 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA manager Martin O’Neill has warned his players against taking Gillingham lightly.

He has vivid memories of being taken to the wire by Fourth Division York City while playing for reigning First Division champions Nottingham Forest.

Forest, having beaten Villa in round three, were given a scare by the Minstermen at home in the fourth round in January 1979 before prevailing 3-1.

Brian Clough’s side would go on to retain their European Cup against Hamburg four months later and finish runners-up to Liverpool in the First Division.

Forest were beaten in round five by eventual winners Arsenal.

O’Neill said: “I remember us at Nottingham Forest playing York City. It was at a time we were trailblazing – we had won the league and European Cup but York caused us nothing but problems all afternoon.

“I know we eventually won but the result flattered us.”

O’Neill will make sure his side give Gillingham the respect they are due and will not be taking unnecessary risks with his team selection.

“There’s an excitement about the third round. We should be drawn into that excitement and we certainly are,” he said.

O’Neill is not getting carried away by Villa’s superb league form, which sees them sitting in the top four.

“At the minute the number of points we have got in the league is terrific,’’ he added.