O'Neill expects tight finish

Villa boss believes fourth place will be determined in final week

By Carla Hilton   Last updated: 19th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

O'Neill expects tight finish

O'Neill: A race until the end

Related links

Teams

Also see

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill believes it will be on the final day of the season that fourth place in the Premier League will be decided.

He has also slammed suggestions that his side's next two games against Wolves and Sunderland at Villa Park are home bankers.

The Villa boss says nothing is certain in the top flight, as shown when Wigan beat Liverpool against the odds last week.

He admitted to feeling "riled" at suggestions his side would breeze through their next two fixtures, saying fourth place is far from certain with the quality surrounding the Midlands club.

Tough times

"Are the next two games home bankers? Why would they be? It is a question that riles me in this Premier League," said O'Neill.

"It riles me because you see Chelsea going to Wigan and getting beaten, you see Wigan beating Liverpool.

"You see these results. They are there for everyone to see almost every single week. Why would these games be considered banker games for us?!"

Both Wolves and Sunderland are still in danger of being relegated, Wolves more so despite their win over Burnley at Turf Moor which lifted them three points clear of the drop zone.

O'Neill believes his opponents have just as much to play for and therefore is taking nothing for granted.

Derby

"First there is a derby against a Wolves side who had a terrific result at Burnley last weekend," he said.

"Then we face Sunderland who smashed four goals against Bolton, got their act together again, and then drew with Manchester City.

"The games are tough, they don't work out like that, as bankers, they never have done.

"These games coming up are tough for us. We will have to fight every inch of the way in both games to get anything out of them."

He added: "There will be upsets, games you have lost, and come into the dressing room and find every result has gone against you, and vice-versa the following week.

"I think it will be like that from now until halfway through May."