Aston Villa must keep their nerve says Stiliyan Petrov

Mar 3 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

STILIYAN Petrov has urged his Villa team-mates to keep their nerve but he insists their top-four dream is still very much on.

The Bulgarian, who netted his first league goal in 11 months against Stoke City, called the late collapse against Stoke City “unacceptable”.

But ahead of tomorrow night’s game at Manchester City Petrov said: “We have a great chance of finishing in the top four. We have done very well.

“We have a big two-and-a-half months ahead and we need to do it because it will be a great achievement for the club.

“Other teams will drop points as well. There are 11 games to go. It is up to us.

“If you are a footballer there is always pressure because the fans demand. They want to win things, they want to play in the best competitions – the Premier League and the Champions League.”

Villa will be attempting to equal the record runs of Arsenal (2001/02), Chelsea (2008/09) and Tottenham (1960/61) of eight successive away wins in a single season.

Only Chelsea, with nine on the bounce under Jose Mourinho in 2004/05, have a better run in the history of the game.