Express & Star

John Carew insists Villa can still qualify for Europe despite losing to Sunderland.

Defeat to the Black Cats on Saturday left Villa eight points behind fifth spot, the only qualifying place fornbthe UEFA Cup this season.

“We’re not writing off our chances of qualifying for Europe,” said Carew.

“We go to the next match now. In our heads we take it one match at a time and try to win the matches left and if we do that, we still have a chance.

“Sure it was a blow, but it’s not over until it’s over.”

Carew admitted he was bitterly disappointed after missing the chance to make up lost ground.

“I was disappointed because it was a match we had to win – especially because it was at home and because Portsmouth lost as well,” he said.

And he admitted the performance was baffling.

“I don’t know why we played like we did. I thought there was a good spirit in the team,” he said.

“I felt good and felt that the players did when I stepped out there and we were on them from the start.

“We created a chance almost from the beginning and it felt like it was going to be a good day.

“But when you have the ball most of the time and can’t break them down, it can happen.

“Suddenly they can counter and they score and in football that’s what you’re scared of.

“You press and press and press but they can end up scoring and unfortunately, that’s what happened.”