Aston Villa better placed than this time last season to finish in top four

By Sandy Macaskill 137PM GMT seventeen March 2010

On the right highway Martin O"Neill"s Aston Villa side are in a improved on all sides than last deteriorate in their bid to finish in the tip 4 Photo PA

It is a magnitude of Aston Villas understated swell this season, therefore, that ONeill has, for the infancy part, been equates to to get afar with avoiding the issue. Remarkable, really, deliberation that his side are in a far stronger on all sides than they were last season, when expectations exploded.

True, last deteriorate Villa confirmed a mark in the tip five for the infancy of the deteriorate - usually shifting to 6 at the finish - whilst they are now seventh, but a peek at the joining list this sunrise shows Villa usually 3 points from the tip four.

O"Neill hails "extraordinary" Milner Wigan Athletic 1 Aston Villa 2 Stoke 0 Aston Villa 0 If Gareth Barry does move to Manchester City it will be an annoyance not usually for him, but for Aston Villa Jottings from the kick Martin ONeill creates us wait, but the regularly value it Top 10 team-mates who were most appropriate of enemies

With 49 points, Villa are one point at the back of Manchester City, 3 at the back of fourth-placed Tottenham, who have 52 points, but similar to City they have dual games in palm on Liverpool, who have 51 points, and one diversion over Spurs.

But maybe some-more critical than positioning is the movement that Villa have picked up in new months. Last deteriorate they won usually twice in between the finish of Feb and the finish of the deteriorate (and even afterwards it was opposite Hull and Newcastle, and both in May).

They are nonetheless to lose a compare in 2010, and the awaiting of dual home fixtures opposite Wolves and Sunderland, both unequivocally winnable, equates to that by the time they transport to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea at the finish of this month Villa could be inside the tip four.

Martin ONeill has been penetrating to speak about the alleviation done on the beautiful side of the team, with James Milner surpassing all expectations with his capability to fool around in probably any position, and Ashley Young shrugging off a diseased begin to the season, but if Villas 0-0 pull with Stoke last week end showed anything it was that ONeills brazen players, gifted though they are, now miss the Big Four capability levy themselves, and their creativity, at will.

The ones commanding themselves are the defenders, and they have been you do it consistently all season. Having conceded usually twenty-two goals this deteriorate they are statistically the most appropriate counterclaim in the Premier League at present. The experience of Richard Dunne and James Collins has been crucial, their eagerness to put their bodies in the way, too. They have done some-more blocks than any alternative side. Nor should Brad Friedels grant be lost he has the most appropriate saves to shots comparative measure in the league.

If there is a clouded cover it is that Gabby Agbonlahor was forced off opposite Wigan with a groin injury. The striker, Villas heading scorer this deteriorate with fourteen goals, has usually usually recovered from a go through censure so his perceivable disappointment at carrying to be replaced - a call he done himself - was understandable.

Agbonlahor would be a great man to have around opposite Wolves, carrying shown his aptitude in derby fixtures by scoring opposite Wolves and Birmingham this season, whilst his damage suggests that the aria that the players have been subjected to is commencement to show.

"We have kept this going for a long, prolonged time via the season,"

ONeill explained. "Its been difficult on the team, unequivocally tough. Weve got a unequivocally chaotic duration entrance up and we will need each robust man available," he said.

It is the greatest hazard to Villa"s chances of violation in to the tip 4 this season, and brought on in piece by O"Neill"s hostility to stagger his squad. It competence be time to broach on the revolution that he betrothed at the begin of the season.