O'Neill - Point was fair

O'Neill: Settled for a draw

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Martin O'Neill felt Aston Villa were good value for their 1-1 draw away at Burnley on Saturday.

Villa left it late before sealing a share of the spoils, with Emile Heskey cancelling out Steven Caldwell's early opener.

The men from the Midlands were second best for much of the contest at Turf Moor, with the Clarets proving to be formidable opponents on home soil.

O'Neill admitted afterwards that his side were far from their best this weekend, but felt they displayed commendable resolve to snatch a point.

"I think on the second half performance we deserved it," he said.

"We were poor in the first half, and we had no reason to be.

"I thought Burnley adjusted to the conditions in the first half much better than we did. They got the goal, not the best from our viewpoint, and it knocked us back a bit.

"We didn't get going at all until the second half. But overall I thought the point was well merited."

Quota

O'Neill was also pleased to see Heskey break his duck for the season, with the England international having endured a difficult campaign thus far.

"He has a reputation as a provider for other players, that's fine, but if you are a centre-forward you have to get your quota," added the Villa boss.

"It was great news for him, he took it very well. I believe he is capable of scoring more goals than he does."

O'Neill was also delighted to see Stewart Downing in action for the first time, with the former Middlesbrough winger making his Villa debut from off the bench against Burnley.

He said: "I think that's a big plus for him. In terms of match fitness, he's a distance away but I thought a spurt here would be useful and he might provide something.

"He has got into the action, which is great, and he can only improve. We have a game in midweek he will play in. Just being part of it after that injury is great for him."