Aston Villa: Dunne's headed opener earns O'Neill accolade

Oct 6 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

Martin O'Neill

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill admits he missed Richard Dunne’s muted goal celebrations – because he was too busy cheering the centre-half’s headed opener himself.

O’Neill felt Dunne deservedly clinched the man-of-the-match award after capping a fine defensive display by opening his claret and blue account against his old club.

“Dunne was absolutely immense,” said O’Neill. “He’d obviously a determination to play well.

‘‘Apparently his celebrations went down pretty well because he hardly celebrated it at all.

“I didn’t know that myself because I was too busy celebrating, so I didn’t notice.