Aston Villa are certainties for the top four says Andy Gray

Feb 20 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA legend Andy Gray says Villa are top four certs this season – but warns that a failure to get into the Champions League could be damaging for morale.

A win over Chelsea tomorrow would put Villa 10 points ahead of Arsenal and five clear of Guus Hiddink’s side.

Gray, one of the club’s finest ever centre-forwards and now a respected pundit on Sky, says this season has put the club back on the map but warns the hard work has only just begun.

“As good as this season has been for Villa – and it has been, no-one can ever queston that – I think if they were now to slip out of the top four it would be a massive disappointment,” he said.

“It would be a real downer for everyone at the club.

“There has never been a club who have had 51 points at this stage of the season who have failed to finish in the top four.

“Historically that is with Villa. I just think psychologically for next season – that is what I am looking at – Villa must build on it.

“That’s not just saying ‘we have finished in the top four once’ and they can’t do it again.

“I am saying ‘finish in the top four next year’.

‘‘Psychlogically, if Villa faltered now I don’t know how easy it would be for Martin O’Neill to pick up the players to go again next season.”

Gray warns that Guus Hiddink will be keen to end Villa’s longest unbeaten league run since 1910 in the top flight.

“Villa got a bad result against Everton and it wasn’t