Aston Villa: Win has lifted the home jitters - O'Neill

Aug 31 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill expressed his delight at repaying the Villa Park faithful with a home Premier League victory after admitting Villa were nervous about playing in front of their own fans.

Villa tasted victory only five times in the league on their own patch last season and O’Neill was concerned about a tense atmosphere following the opening-day defeat to Wigan.

O’Neill’s team were booed off at half-time and at the final whistle against the Latics, but the claret and blue contingent gave them their full backing during yesterday’s 2-0 win over Fulham.

And the manager is pleased to have lifted the doom and gloom around the club ahead of their Second City derby trip to Blues a week on Sunday after the international break.

“I’m very pleased indeed,” said O’Neill. “We were actually a bit apprehensive just playing at home again in the league.

“But the crowd were terrific and we settled down, got the goal early, which was a big tonic for us, and we won pretty well in the end.

“When I mentioned the word ‘apprehensive’ it was probably too strong because the players still enjoy playing at home.

“I don’t think they were best pleased themselves about the Wigan affair.

“But it’s nice to get a home win and we’ve six points on the board from three games.

“It takes us into the break and naturally I’ll wait to see what happens when the players come back from international duty, but I’m just pleased to have won.”