Villa fixture request denied

O'Neill reveals Premier League snub

Last updated: 6th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Villa fixture request denied

O'Neill: Request denied

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Martin O'Neill has claimed that the Premier League rejected Aston Villa's pleas to rearrange games for next month.

Villa's run to the final of the Carling Cup and ongoing involvement in the FA Cup has left them with a gruelling March schedule.

They have played fewer matches than every other team in the Premier League and must play regularly in midweek this month to get through the backlog.

O'Neill was hoping the Premier League would look kindly on Villa's call to space out fixtures but has revealed their request received an unsympathetic response.

"We have got no midweek games in April at the moment but something like 7,000 in March as things stand," he said ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash at Reading.

"I've been reminded that we haven't won a game in March since I've been here. We'll now have an opportunity every two and a half days to change that.

"Because we have played as many games as anyone else in the Premier League in the last two months, with replays and League Cup semi-finals, we asked the Premier League for a bit of help.

Repent

"We asked if we could stretch things out a little for when the weather gets a bit better and we could play some rearranged games in April.

"With the worse scenario, even if we got through the Reading tie after a replay and had to change the date of the Everton league game, there was still time in April to fit things in.

"But the Premier League want to get the fixtures in during March so we've got plenty of time to repent during April. There is no leeway for us at all."

O'Neill is anticipating a tricky game at the Madejski Stadium, with Reading having already knocked out Liverpool and Burnley.

He said: "Reading have done very well. Brian McDermott has stepped in there as manager and revitalised them.

"I think the game itself will be very difficult, as every bit as difficult, if not more, than against Crystal Palace in the last round. You saw how difficult that tie was for us.

"But, if ever there was an incentive to get back to Wembley again, last Sunday should be it. There was disappointment at the time and it is exactly the same feeling today."