Martin O'Neill has urged his strikers to rescue Aston Villa's Europa League campaign
Aug 21 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
MARTIN O’Neill today challenged his attackers to rescue Villa’s Europa League campaign and atone for their defensive frailties – even without John Carew.
Villa lost 1-0 to Rapid Vienna after conceding the deciding goal after just 16 seconds of last night’s play-off first-leg clash at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium.
Such are Villa’s problems at the back that O’Neill doubts their ability to keep a clean sheet in the return tie and says they might need to score three to go through.
And they could be forced to continue without Carew with the unwell Norwegian talisman already rated as doubtful for Monday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.
Carew was a shock absentee for the second game running after withdrawing from last night’s match at the last minute with Villa reporting he had contracted a virus. It followed his late omission with an infected toe from the squad that lost the opening league game of the season to Wigan at Villa Park on Saturday.
O’Neill is putting a brave face on last night’s defeat and after taking encouragement from the performance is confident Villa can overturn the deficit.
