Aston Villa: Zat Knight insists own goal glut is no fluke

Jan 10 2009 Mat Kendrick

ZAT Knight insists Villa’s recent own goal bonanza is more down to judgement than luck with Martin O’Neill’s attacking team panicking opponents into giving them helping hands.

Four players have put through their own net during Villa’s eight game Premier League unbeaten run: Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Kevin Davies (Bolton), Lucas Neill (West Ham) and Kamil Zayette (Hull).

The costly concessions in recent months have resulted in Villa victories on each occasion and equal the number of own goals O’Neill’s top four hopefuls profited from throughout last season.

But Knight rejects suggestions that Villa have benefited from a huge slice of fortune and puts the own goals down to the dangerous deliveries of Ashley Young and James Milner.

And the 6ft 6ins defender, whose last own goal came at Villa Park in his final game for Fulham, is glad to only have to face Villa’s deadly crossing on the Bodymoor Heath training field.