O'Neill: We were punished

Villa boss admits they were made to pay for errors

By James Dall   Last updated: 20th October 2007

O'Neill: We were punished

O'Neill: Frustrated

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has lamented his side's defending following the 4-1 loss to Manchester United.

Despite going ahead courtesy of Gabriel Agbonlahor's 12th minute header, Villa fell to pieces and were punished by some scintillating United interplay.

O'Neill's men were very much victims of their own downfall after sloppy defending allowed The Red Devils to overturn them on home soil.

The Villa manager vented his frustration at the errors, and also hit out at Rob Styles' decision to send off Nigel Reo-Coker.

Really poor

"We got off to a great start and maybe should have scored a second goal. But the goals we conceded were really poor from our point of view," O'Neill said.

"They were avoidable and suddenly we find ourselves 3-1 down at half-time.

"We tried to get back in it but I thought the sending off of Nigel was a big moment in the game. The first booking was debatable, the second is never a yellow card in a million years. It was really harsh.

"I'm really disappointed because we were really up for this game, ready to go, and we were made to pay for our defending."