Gareth Barry: Aston Villa must reward the fans

May 4 2009 By Mat Kendrick

GARETH Barry has challenged his team-mates to repay the Villa Park faithful by treating them to a rare home victory against Hull tonight.

The Villa skipper believes Martin O’Neill’s brand of exciting football is responsible for getting fans flocking back resulting in bumper crowds.

And club stalwart Barry insists the current claret and blue squad is among the best he has been involved with during his decade’s service for Villa.

But with just five Premier League victories at home this season, the England midfielder believes Villa owe their supporters a win.

“The way we play football is why the attendances have been up in the last two seasons,” said Barry.

“I think we are averaging just under 40,000 again which are great attendances.

“The manager has got us playing and we have some exciting players here. But it’s about getting points on the board though and sadly we have not been doing that in recent weeks.”

As the club’s current longest-serving player, Barry has also worked under John Gregory, Graham Taylor and David O’Leary.

But the 28-year-old insists O’Neill has put together one of the most exciting Villa squads he has known in the past 10 years.

“This season has probably been the best season a team has had here for a long while,” said Barry.

“To be part of that has been great. When you step out there it gives you the confidence to show what you can do as you know there are other players around you who will do that as well.”

Barry and his team-mates are now resigned to finishing fifth at best after waving farewell to their Champions League chances. But the skipper believes Villa must still be wary of the threat posed by FA Cup finalists Everton.

“If we do end up fifth then the club has had a good season again,” added Barry.

“Everton were never out of it the way they keep battling all the way and the run they have been on.

“I think they’ve lost only a few in 20-odd games which shows the confidence they’ve got.

“They will have one eye on the cup final but it’s important we concentrate on ourselves to try to guarantee fifth spot.”

Meanwhile, James Milner has echoed O’Neill’s sentiments that Villa players are still excited rather than frightened of playing at Villa Park.

Villa have lost three and drawn nine of their 17 league home games, compared to winning 10 matches on their travels.

“You always want to play in front of your own fans,” said Milner.

“It just hasn’t gone for us this season and our away form is better but it’s how you react.

“We can use it to our advantage.

“It’s not like we haven’t played well. We have created a lot of chances.

“We just have to make sure that when we are attacking and penning teams in that we don’t get hit by a sucker punch.

“We believe we can beat anyone on our day. It’s down to us to finish strongly, whether it’s at Villa Park or elsewhere.”