Martin O’Neill described Villa’s display as “magnificent” – and he says his team will be in the right frame of mind when they go to Derby in search of more points next Saturday.
“I was delighted with that,” he said.
“I thought the performance was magnificent. It was really important to get the first goal and that was something we set out to do.
“It’s been far too long at Villa Park since we got the first goal – it was Reading back in January. Since then it’s been a case of uphill battles and coming from behind in games.
“I thought our overall performance was really terrific. I think the crowd were treated to some scintillating football and that was us more or less back to our best.
“This was a very, very important game for us, as I said in the build up, and to get our noses in front early on set us on our way.
“We also kept a clean-sheet for the first time in ages and I was pleased with everyone.
“We had a little spell just after half-time where we had to defend stoutly and maybe we got a wee bit of luck once or twice.
“But just as Bolton felt they might be coming back into the game we got a magnificent second goal and took the game away from them.
“I think there’s a great old boost from winning the game and there’s a bit of a buzz again around the dressing room. This was very, very important for us.
“We’re back in the frame. We go to Derby next weekend and the lads are buzzing again. I hope it can last.”
The manager was delighted to see Gabby Agbonlahor end a goal drought.
“It’s all right for me saying I wasn’t worried about the lack of goals, but he’s a centre-forward who thrives on scoring,” said O’Neill.
“He hadn’t scored since the match at Wigan just after Christmas and he’ll be glad to be back on the scoresheet.
“Interestingly, for the first time on Saturday, I thought up until he got the goal there was a lack of confidence.
“Once in the first half, when we’d broken clear, the goalscoring Gabby Agbonlahor would have taken the defender on one against one, but instead he came inside to pass it and finally I think the ball went out for a throw-in.
“Once he got the goal, he was back to his scintillating best, roasting players, taking them on and feeling the confidence was there. That’s what a goal can do for you.”
The Villa boss also singled out skipper Gareth Barry as “a class act” while he was pleased to see Stiliyan Petrov back to something approaching his best form.
And he described Marlon Harewood’s first Villa Park goal as “a big moment,” particularly as it was at the Holte End.
“It should tell him that heading goals is not as difficult as it’s made out to be!” the manager joked. “It was a very subtle touch.
“The thing about it is that you have to get in there. Sometimes when people are trying to make goals for you, it’s best to be on the end of them, rather than sitting at the other end of the pitch.
“He’s got a few goals for us now, which is great.”
2 Comments
Was Martin O’Neill at the same match as me on Saturday.Yes Villa won 4-0 but it certainly was not a classic performance if Bolton had have played anything like decent ( they were terrible )we probably would have lost again, Reo was very poor, ball distribution generally was poor.We have got a long long way to go in order to challenge with the best I am not sure we have the skills to do it Martin should buy one or two stars if he really has the money to spend. i for one will not be buying my season ticket this season until I see who is coming in you may be able to con supporters one season but not two.
Clearly Martin is trying to crawl up to his players. They were ‘magnificent’ - by beating one of the worst sides in the league???? What were they then Martin when Man Utd played with them rather than against them last week??? It vwas like a cat toying with a mouse. Middlesborough showed what could have been this last weekend.
I hope O’neal gets a lot of cash this summer cos if he doesn’t you could really struggle next year.
You lot have always been wasters