Aston Villa desperate to end winless run - Knight

Feb 27 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

ZAT Knight insisted Villa have become desperate to beat Stoke on Sunday in a bid to end a depressing run of four winless games after last night’s UEFA Cup exit in Russia.

Martin O’Neill’s side were beaten 2-0 at CSKA Moscow, which came hot on the heels of the FA Cup exit to Everton and the home defeat to Chelsea last Sunday.

“I would not say we are under pressure on Sunday but we want to get into that Champions League spot,” said Knight.

“We are worrying about nothing else at the minute.”

Villa face Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United in the coming weeks in a test of their capabilities.

“We have got 12 games to put it right and we feel that if we get points against the big teams – against the Manchester Uniteds, like we have – then we can finish in that fourth position,” said Knight.

“Everyone is happy, we are playing well.