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O'Neill calls on players to last the pace

Hull v Aston Villa: ASTON VILLA manager Martin O'Neill has challenged his players to show they can last the pace in the battle…

Tue Dec 30 2008 - 00:00

Hull v Aston Villa:ASTON VILLA manager Martin O'Neill has challenged his players to show they can last the pace in the battle to qualify for the Champions League. Villa, who face Hull tonight, have emerged as the team most likely to gatecrash the top four in the English Premier League this season.

They are handily placed at the midway point of the season but O'Neill said: "It is a tough struggle. There is nothing easy in this league and where the other clubs have the advantage is that they have been through this ground before.

"Those clubs, who have been over the course and distance for every single year, have the advantage. So far as we are concerned we have to keep the players fit because with all these games coming up it is going to be tough.

"We have got to show the same sort of desire and same sort of commitment for another five months. We will be stretched to the limit. We will lose matches we should have won and might scramble something we might not deserve."

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Having seen his side excel in overhauling a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Arsenal on St Stephen's Day, O'Neill is keen to ensure that no-one in the Villa camp should underestimate the challenge of a trip to Hull.

He added: "The game will be very tough. Hull have surprised a lot of people this season and the points they have on the board is fantastic.

"When you consider how tight the Premiership is this season, for them to be where they are at the moment is great testimony to what they have achieved over the first four or five months of the season.

"We played brilliantly against Arsenal and will need the same again. We should have been out of sight before half-time but went in a goal behind."

O'Neill dismissed reports he has bid for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe. O'Neill is keen to strengthen his squad next month but stressed he has not yet made any offers to clubs for players.

The Derry man said: "We have not enquired about any player at the moment so this idea we have bid zillions for some particular player is simply untrue.

O'Neill is set to name an unchanged side for tonight's game after Carlos Cuellar failed to recover from a leg injury in time for the clash.

Cuellar missed the St Stephen's Day match against Arsenal having been injured in the previous game against West Ham. Nigel Reo-Coker will continue to deputise for him at right-back.