O'Neill hails side's character

Villa boss delighted after side stage remarkable comeback

Last updated: 7th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

O'Neill hails side's character

O'Neill: Pleased with side's second-half display

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Martin O'Neill hailed the character of his side after Aston Villa came from two goals down to beat Reading 4-2 and reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

Villa looked hungover from last weekend's Carling Cup final defeat as they slumped to a two-goal first-half deficit courtesy of a Shane Long brace.

But Ashley Young scored within two minutes of the restart before John Carew quickly netted two more goals.

The big Norwegian striker then scored an injury-time penalty after being fouled in the area to complete his hat-trick.

Afterwards, O'Neill refused to divulge what he had said at half-time but was delighted by his side's transformation.

He said: "It was a great spell by us just after half-time and we needed to do something because we had played so meekly in the first half.

"I think after all the effort that we have put in in both cups this season, to go out as meekly as we might have done would have been very disappointing.

Great character

"But I am delighted with the team, we have showed great character.

"The players are fine players and they knew how second best we were in the first half.

"They didn't need much reminding of that. But I thought Reading played very, very well in the first half.

"They played with no fear and deserved the second goal and I was pleased to go in just two down.

"But some of my players have performed unbelievably well this season and they came to the fore again."

The Villa boss also challenged Carew to build on his match-winning hat-trick after he came into the side following an illness to Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Absolutely delightful

O'Neill added: "Gabriel Agbonlahor was poorly this morning and had to go home so John steps in and scores a second-half hat-trick which was absolutely delightful.

"John at his hungriest can perform like that.

"He got the equaliser for us and his game lifted two or three-fold.

"Goals give him confidence and the next thing you know he is running the game. He can do that and I want him to perform like that more often.

"I would be delighted if he could score a hat-trick every week but first he needs to find a level of performance which is up there with the best strikers."