Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
O’Neill still on trail of double
Monday 15th February 2010, 1:27PM GMT.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill has insisted the FA Cup replay with Crystal Palace will not jeopardise their chances of Carling Cup glory.
Stiliyan Petrov’s late goal to rescue a 2-2 draw against the Eagles at Selhurst Park in yesterday’s fifth-round tie means the sides will do it all over again at Villa Park on February 24 – just four days before they meet Manchester United at Wembley.
But O’Neill, whose team will meet either derby rivals Albion or Reading in the quarter-finals if they see off Neil Warnock’s team, would rather still be in both competitions and is confident they can cope with the added fixture.
He said: “We’ve got a replay in the week of the League Cup final, which is not ideal but it is preferable to not being in the tie. I think we would have to negotiate Burnley first of all. That is the next task next week.
“We will see how we come out of that game in terms of injuries and things like that, then I would see. But Stiliyan Petrov didn’t risk life and limb there to head the ball in to the net and to give it up easily.
“Ideally it would have been great to have a free week to prepare for the cup final but it is not going to happen and we’ll see.”
The Villa boss confirmed Emile Heskey picked up an injury in the first-half, but is hopeful the striker will be fit for next Sunday’s Premier League clash with Burnley.
He said: “Emile’s still having a bit of a problem but I think he’s going to be fine, it’s just an annoyance.”
O’Neill refused to be drawn on the draw – insisting they must see off Palace first.
He said: “It’s very hard to react to,. We have Crystal Palace to get past first. I’m just excited to be in the hat.”
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