O’Neill to face facts on top six place next season for Aston Villa

Apr 30 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

“That sums it up and that is the way the Premiership is for quite a number of teams,” he said.

“Those four teams at the top of the league who have been doing it year in, year out, have got more than a head start.

“They have lengths and lengths of a start on us.

“The (relentless) point is taken regarding Hull. It is a long, long season.”

Hull’s fall from grace since December has been little less than incredible.

Brown’s side had 20 points at end of October from 10 games and sat fifth, one place off Manchester United who had 18 points from nine matches.

O’Neill added: “Things like this can happen.

“You can go on a winless streak and wonder where the next win is coming from.

“But I don’t think that Hull, despite the great start, would have foreseen a second half of the season that has been as tough as it was and continues to be.”