Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill has no complaints over Spurs equaliser

Nov 30 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill had no complaints about the hint of handball in Tottenham’s equaliser and admitted their top-four rivals deserved a point.

Several Villa players appealed for a free-kick when Michael Dawson seemed to control the ball with his arm before blasting in the late leveller.

But O’Neill was more concerned about Villa’s failure to add a second goal and insists his Champions League chasers must learn to kill teams off. There is a suggestion of handball but the referee didn’t give it and at the end of it all I think Tottenham would have deserved the equaliser anyway in the game,” said O’Neill.

“Certainly on their second-half performance, as befits a very good team in good form.

“But we’ll try and learn something from the game, hopefully, maybe to try and get a second goal when we’re in charge. It might help, but it’s easier said than done in this Premier League.

“We didn’t intend to sit back in the game but sometimes you’re driven back. That’s what happens.

“Good sides get driven back in games and sides away from home.

“We were driven back on our own territory and for longer spells than we are used to.

“That was really fine play by Tottenham, we just couldn’t get out.

“But usually we can realign, refocus and get ourselves back in the game and then become dangerous.

“When you are driven back for that period of time, it’s what you try and do then to get out of it and that’s a lesson that we can learn.

“It’s not to go for long periods sitting on the edge of your box.”