Stud Marks: Proof Aston Villa's defence is just one merged unit?
GIVEN the nature of the brick wall-style defending that has helped Villa chalk up eight out of ten league clean sheets in recent months, it would be easy to view the side’s rearguard as one complete unit.
In particular, centre-halves Richard Dunne and James Collins have thrown themselves in front of so many shots that it’s sometimes hard to tell exactly which body is being put on the line.
And, judging by one interview he gave after the goalless draw at White Hart Lane, even Martin O’Neill is getting a little bit confused.
While lavishing praise on his defence, the manager said: “He (Dunne) was absolutely outstanding and with Richard Collins... erm... James Collins coming in, the two of them have been outstanding.”
This article is taken from Stud Marks, a sideways look at Midlands football which appears in the Birmingham Mail every Monday
