Martin O’Neill wants goal-crazy Villa to take a leaf out of Manchester United’s book and batten down the hatches to secure a UEFA Cup place.
Freescoring Villa have rifled 15 goals in the last three games to be the second top Premier League scorers behind leaders United with 67 – their highest total since they won the League in 1981.
Unlike United, who have conceded just 19 with 19 clean sheets, Villa have leaked 45 – the highest in the top 10 – and kept nine shut-outs.
Villa go to fifth-placed Everton on Sunday knowing victory will lift them into the only UEFA Cup place on goal difference. And O’Neill believes they need to concentrate as much on a tight defence as filling their boots.
“When we get into full flow we’re really exciting and we want to try to solidify that and make us stronger defensively and not concede a goal,” said the Villa boss.
“So that maybe on a day when we miss chances or don’t create them, a 1-0 goes our way instead of the other way.
“For all Manchester United’s attacking flair, their season was built around a series of 1-0 wins. Now that sounds boring. But it’s part of the game.”
O’Neill added: “Going forward we’re a threat. We’re capable of scoring goals. But being capable and actually doing it are two different things.
“For the most part we’ve always scored goals and at any stage this season we’ve always been up there with Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea.
“We’ve just conceded too many – but that’s almost inevitable if you’re trying to attack in the manner we’re doing.”
O’Neill believes Villa have a real chance to cement their return to Europe at Goodison.
“What we’ve done is given ourselves a chance,” said the boss. “We’re back in contention and Everton now becomes a massively big game for us. We have to go there and win. Everton are three points ahead of us so the only way to get into fifth is to win.
“It will be a very hard game, but the way we’re playing at the moment we’re capable of doing it.
“Fifteen goals in three games is amazing and now only Manchester United have scored more than us.
“People who know me, realise I’ll always play things down. The team should take some sort of credit at the minute.
“We’re an attacking force. Despite some indifferent performances against Middlesbrough and Sunderland, we’re generally capable of scoring.”
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