Curtis Davies vows to defy critics at Aston Villa

May 9 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

Villa’s defence have had to cope with criticism that they have been a pale reflection of their former selves without skipper Martin Laursen.

But Davies insists that even during the tough times the likes of himself, Zat Knight and Carlos Cuellar have always had belief in their own ability.

“I’ve always been confident,” said Davies. “I’m confident in myself. No-one can knock me. I might be able to knock myself, but no-one can knock me and I’ll keep going.

“It’s just good that hopefully people will have a bit more confidence in us rather than me being confident in myself or the team being confident in ourselves.

“Hopefully they’ll have bit more confidence in us in the next few games and we can get some good results.”

Davies is now challenging Villa to end the season on a high with positive results at Fulham today, Middlesbrough next weekend and at home to Newcastle on the final day.

“If we flatten out now and go low and finish sixth it’s going to be hard and because we’ve been fourth some people would consider it a failure,” he added.

“But at least if we finish fifth now with a little bit of a renaissance then at least that will be success because we’ve progressed one step higher. Then next season you never know fourth could be us.”