O'Neill eyes long cup run

Villa boss wants to avoid defeat against Gillingham

Last updated: 3rd January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

O'Neill eyes long cup run

O'Neill: Determined

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Martin O'Neill has admitted he is 'desperate' for Aston Villa to get through against Gillingham in the FA Cup.

Villa have not made much of an impression in the FA Cup in recent years but O'Neill has vowed to field his strongest possible side at the Priestfield on Sunday.

The Villa boss has the utmost respect for the competition and, while he remains focused on the Premier League, he would love to get all the way to Wembley.

O'Neill said: "Our record since 2000, when Villa reached the final, has not been so clever. I have been responsible for the last couple of years of that when we played Manchester United.

"I saw Gillingham play last week against Wycombe and thought they played exceptionally well in the second half. I accept it will be a totally different game - even if they hadn't played well - and I wouldn't want to go out.

Dignity

"I want to treat the competition with the dignity it deserves and am desperate to get through.

"I accept the top Premier League sides in recent years have accepted the Champions League is the Holy Grail and maybe the FA Cup has been lessened from that viewpoint.

"The competition is really dear to me. I'd love to do well. It was something I never won as a player and it would be great to do well in it."

Villa are chasing a top-four finish and have also advanced to the last 32 of the Uefa Cup, but O'Neill regards the FA Cup as one of his priorities.

"At the moment, we are going fine in the league, the Uefa Cup is not until the end of February, so there is plenty of time to think about that," he explained.

"I was speaking to the players and this is a game they want to try and get through. They really do. I think they are ready for the game and it will be great for us to go to Gillingham.

O'Neill acknowledges that conditions may not suit Villa, adding: "With frost setting in, it might be a difficult pitch. We are ready to go and the players are ready to play."