Injuries no excuse for Villa´s plight – Warnock

Stephen Warnock is not prepared use injuries as an excuse for Aston Villa’s troubles in the English Premier League.

The Birmingham-based side are a lowly 16th in the table with one win from their last nine league games.

Villa have been hampered by the worst injury crisis in the league, with captain Stylian Petrov, young midfielder Marc Albrighton and striker Emile Heskey among numerous key absentees.

But Warnock is refusing to blame the injury crisis for the side’s poor results, and instead questioned the performances of those who have played.

“You’ve got to look at it and wonder why you are down there,” Warnock said.

“No one wants to be down in those bottom places and we are no different to anyone else.”

“We are not used to be being down there. We are used to being at the top and fighting for Europe.”

“There are a lot of big characters in the changing room so hopefully it won’t be for too long.”

“Why are we down there? It is not down to injuries. There is enough quality in the squad to go and get results.”

“We are conceding too many goals, we are not scoring enough goals. It is as simple as that. We are not putting chances away and then we are leaking silly goals.”

“It is disappointing from the defenders’ point of view that we are conceding so often and as many goals as we are conceding.”

Villa travel to Anfield on Monday to take on Liverpool, the club where Warnock began his career.

The full-back has ventured back to Merseyside a number of times since leaving for Blackburn in 2007, and he will emerge from the tunnel with his head held high, despite his failure to make the grade.

“It could be a tough game going into it,” he said.

“But I’ve played there enough times since I’ve left Liverpool.”

“I’ve got nothing to prove. I know what I’ve done since I came away from Liverpool.”

“I’ll just go there and try and enjoy the game and try and get the right result.”