Martin O'Neill calls on Villa players to get into the box more

Oct 26 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill has challenged Villa’s midfield players to get into the box more, despite admitting they struggle to keep up with pace aces Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.

O’Neill believes Villa’s below par performance against Wolves highlighted the need for better movement in the opposition’s area to increase their goal threat from open play.

“We got ourselves into a couple of decent positions and unlike us this season we were unable to deliver,” he said.

“I think we have to get some more movement in the six-yard box.

“Sometimes is it difficult with Gabby and Ashley being so quick you are maybe leaving midfield players behind.

“But it is a responsibility to try and get more goals and that is what we will try and do.

“Even if we had won at Wolves we have loads of things to improve.”

Captain Stiliyan Petrov put a positive slant on the derby draw and claimed Villa might have lost that game in previous seasons.

“We nearly won without playing that well,” said Petrov.

“Maybe a few years we would have lost that game in the last few minutes and we hope this point will be vital at the end of the season.

“It is a different team to Chelsea, a different team to play, but we need to learn. Manchester United and Liverpool adapt to every style and if we want to get closer to them, we must try and adapt in every game against every team.

“It is going to be a long season but not everyone can perform well every week.”

Richard Dunne believes Villa’s hard-to-beat streak will come in useful during their glut of away games against Sunderland in the Carling Cup tomorrow and at Everton and West Ham in the league in the next nine days.

“The only positive is we haven’t played great and not been beaten,” said Dunne.

“We’ve got a run of away games coming up which will be difficult but if we can keep the same determination to not lose, it will stand us in good stead.”

Dunne insisted he did not foul Kevin Doyle in a controversial early penalty appeal which was waved away by referee Peter Walton.