Villa ‘still on course’ ahead of Sunderland clash

Martin O’Neill’s March madness during his time as Aston Villa manager has been well documented — but striker John Carew insists their campaign for the FA Cup and a Champions League place is not running out of steam.

O’Neill, since taking charge in 2006, has won just one game in 15 Premier League attempts during the month of March.

Failings at a similar time last season ruined Villa’s bid for a top four finish and the prospect of a repeat would be similarly damaging for their ambitions in this campaign.

Saturday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with strugglers Wolves brought an angry reaction from O’Neill to supporters who jeered the team off the pitch at half-time and the final whistle.

O’Neill remains angry with the dissatisfaction after delivering a League Cup final day out, albeit in a losing cause against Manchester United and another Wembley visit in the upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

Meanwhile victory over Sunderland at Villa Park would leave the Midlands side within two points of Tottenham Hotspur, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualifying place.

Carew, whose two goals at least salvaged a draw against Wolves, believes the point could yet prove crucial in the final analysis.

“It was a good point. Any point in a local derby is always good. Maybe we should wait and see until the end of the season, but that point could be crucial to us,” said Carew.

“We want to finish fourth. That is our target and there are still a lot of points to play for. I know we faded last season, but we have a much stronger squad this time.

“The players are super-fit and they can keep going for all the important games that are left,” he added.

“What is important is that all the players and fans stick together.”

Villa’s Republic of Ireland international Richard Dunne is an injury doubt after aggravating an Achilles tendon problem against Wolves.

The central defender has been undergoing intensive treatment in an effort to maintain his ever-present Premier League run since signing from Manchester City in August.

Villa could also face Steve Bruce’s improving Sunderland without leading scorer Gabby Agbonlahor, who sat out Saturday’s draw with a foot injury after recovering from a groin problem.

Some Villa fans greeted the point against Wolves with a chorus of boos, which led to a sarcastic response from O’Neill, who cupped his hand to his ear after the final whistle.

O’Neill was more upbeat about the goals return of Carew who, in Agbonlahor’s absence, took his season’s tally to 13 with his double salvo which continued an impressive run of seven goals in six games for the Norwegian international.

“I’m absolutely delighted that he is coming into good form at the moment,” O’Neill said.

“He did a similar thing last season for us and we are going to need him.”

The manager added: “He seems to be clear of the little niggles that have affected him this year and I just hope he can stay fit between now and the end of the season because we’ll need him and we’ll need everybody.”

Sunderland’s victory over manager Bruce’s former club Birmingham City at the Stadium of Light on Saturday significantly eased relegation concerns.

But the Black Cats manager refuses to accept his side are certainties to stay up.

“All of a sudden, we’ve lost just one in eight, and that was to Arsenal,” Bruce said. “Thankfully the long winter is over.

“The mentality of this club, and I’ve only been here a short period of time, is such that I’m not going to take anything for granted. It’s not a club that does things easily.

“I don’t think the 34 points we’ve got will necessarily be enough to keep us up. But we are getting to the point where we are looking up not down.”