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Stoke even tougher now for O’Neill
Thursday 11th March 2010, 10:13AM GMT.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill admits Stoke will represent an even tougher challenge for his team at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday than last season.
Mamady Sidibe’s injury-time winner clinched a dramatic 3-2 win for the Potters last season, in what was their first-ever home game in the Premier League.
After being widely tipped to sink straight back into the Championship, City managed to finish a creditable 12th in their first season back with the big boys.
The 11th-placed Potters look all but certain to beat the drop once again this season and O’Neill believes this season’s trip up the M6 will present an even bigger test of his team’s Champions League credentials.
He said: “I think that Tony Pulis has done a fantastic job, really fantastic.
“Last season they used everything to their advantage at home with the long throws, the narrowing of the pitch – all of the things that give you an opportunity to stay in the Premier League – and they backed it up with their home support.
“This season they’ve gone on and added the likes of Matthew Etherington, who has given them a bit of class on the left-hand side and I think they’ve stepped up again.
“It might not always be mirrored in their results but I really think they’ve taken it on.”
The game sees Villa resume their top-four charge after their recent Cup commitments and, with a fixture pile-up now lying in store, O’Neill has urged his team to grit their teeth and ‘hang in there.’
He said: “We’re still fighting, we’re still battling on that front. Because of the cup runs and the postponed games it’s going to be pretty hectic between now and the end of the season.
“We’re trying to get dates for the rearranged games against Everton and Hull and it’s going to be pretty exciting if we can hang in there.
“Saturday’s game against Stoke will be particularly difficult followed by an equally difficult away trip to Wigan but we’ve got to hang in there.
“We’ve got to last the distance and stay with it.”
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I’m really pleased how well we’ve done this year – hopefully we can keep the excitement going right till the end – Great job Martin
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