ASTON VILLA v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
O'NEILL: SPURS HAVE A VERY STRONG SQUAD
ComeOnSpurs.com, 28 Nov 2009
Martin O'Neill is wary of the quality of Tottenham Hotspur, who arrive at Villa Park on the back of a nine goal scoring spree against Wigan last weekend, and he believes the battle for the final top four place will be one to savour.
Villa have excellent home form but O'Neill knows that Spurs will provide a threat.
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He told AVTV: "They played very well indeed. They made loads and loads of chances in the game. They missed a few too.
"Chris Kirkland made a number of good saves throughout the match. And so it could have been any score you wanted.
"I left when it was six or seven - I can't remember which - and even then I didn't think the scoring was done. It was just a great performance.
"This one is a game to savour. We, ourselves, are doing very well at home at this moment in time, which is great. Hopefully I haven't spoken too soon.
"After the opening day defeat and initial hiccup against Wigan, the home form has picked up and is starting to thread itself out.
"I hope we can return to the sort of form we showed against Bolton after the dogged clash at Turf Moor.
"It's certainly going to be tough. They have had a great time of it over the past year. Harry stepped in when they were in a bit of trouble. They only had a couple of points on the board. Not only did he steady the ship, he also got them clear very, very quickly.
"Obviously their supporters are seeing the rewards of that particular hard work. They have added some major players to their squad - or resigned them depending on which way you look at it - the likes of Keane, Defoe and Crouch. They have a real proper squad.
"You look at their bench and you realise what a squad they have. Well done to them. It's a great, great effort and they have a great start to the season.
"But we have been very strong at Villa Park. It would be great if every single time you stepped out on home soil that you were guaranteed three points. But it's not like that.
"It's not even like that for the likes of Chelsea, whose home record has been impeccable over the past few years. But they have had to strive, they have had to work hard and endure some scary moments in matches.
"They've maybe fallen behind in a few games at home although I can't remember too many off hand. But their record at Stamford Bridge has been fantastic over a period of five years.
"That's coincided with a fantastic side. That's the sort of thing we need to be emulating."
