Everton v Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill says Aston Villa can learn from Everton's achievements

Feb 13 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA boss Martin O’Neill is full of admiration for David Moyes, saying that the Scotsman’s achievements at Goodison Park have helped inspire Villa to believe they can gatecrash the top four.

Villa stand to be the first club since Everton in 2004/05 to pip one of the giants of the modern era to a Champions League berth.

They are seven points clear of Arsenal and can go five points clear of Chelsea if they beat them at Villa Park next Saturday.

Before then it is the small matter of the FA Cup against an Everton side who have finished in the top six the last two seasons and who finished fourth with 61 points – three clear of Liverpool – four seasons ago.

Moyes’ side, though, were beaten in the Champions League qualifiers 4-2 on aggregate by Villareal when a late Duncan Ferguson goal in Spain was ruled out before Diego Forlan killed the tie.

Everton then struggled to finished 11th in the league.

“The season they were in the Champions League I thought they were unlucky to go out to Villareal and that was the season I think they went on to struggle a little bit,” recalls O’Neill.

“But the overall picture at Everton has been one of really steady progress. They’re the only side to have broken through against the top four, so from that they must take great credit.”