O'Neill - We will learn

Goals from Cole and Anelka sink Villa

Last updated: 6th October 2008

O'Neill - We will learn

O'Neill: Learning experience

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill believes his team will learn after being outplayed by Chelsea in the Blues' 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka sealed the win but it could have been more as Chelsea dominated in the opening 45 minutes.

Villa improved in the second period but The Blues fully deserved their victory which keeps them top of the league on goal difference.

"They played exceptionally well and we didn't. We can play much better than that but they were exceptional. I thought from start to finish, I thought they were strong, I thought they were very comfortable with the ball," O'Neill told Sky Sports.

Good distance

"We have a good distance to go yet to be up competing on a regular basis with those sides," he said, adding his team can "learn an awful lot" from the defeat.

"We will regroup, we get ourselves ready and prepare for the next game.

"But in many aspects (it was) a great experience here today. We were at the wrong end of it but an experience because that's where you want to be - that's what you want to be aspiring to."

He added his team had played better this season but he did not want to take anything away from Chelsea's superb play.

Accept

"We weren't good enough and we have to accept that today.

"We have got a distance to go - I think everybody who belongs to Aston Villa would accept that," he said, although he believed his side have really good players and a good character to the team.

"Although we didn't show it today we are actually exciting to watch when we've got possession of the ball," he said, adding he thought Chelsea would be concerned about Villa's pace and their attacking ability at the start.

"We just never got into it and that is great credit to Chelsea," said O'Neill, adding: "This is where you want to be, that is what you what to compete against and that's why it should be worth it."