Triumphant Villa boss Martin O’Neill was prepared to change his mind over the controversial penalty which broke Birmingham hearts.

The manager was initially adamant that referee Martin Atkinson was right to award the late spot kick which James Milner converted to clinch a precious 1-0 victory.

But O’Neill was prepared to look again after being told replays had shown Roger Johnson appearing to catch the ball before Gabby Agbonlahor.

He said: “I’ve seen it once in slow motion, I thought it was a clear penalty from that angle but I’m prepared to have a look if that’s the case.

“If he feels that he’s got it clearly and hasn’t tangled with the player – which wasn’t what I saw – then Birmingham might be unlucky there.”

O’Neill insisted Villa’s controversial late penalty winner in no way made up for the refereeing wrongs they suffered at Wembley.

He said: “Absolutely not. If it did then we might have had a trophy on the sideboard and I would have given that penalty up.

“The non sending off of Vidic it’s an incredible decision and Sir Alex Ferguson felt they were lucky that the only thing that was given that day was a penalty.

“The other was in the semi-final of the FA Cup, we were one stage away from getting to a final in a game where the first goal might have decided it.”

O’Neill praised Milner for keeping his cool from the spot under immense pressure, with Villa’s Champions League hopes as well as local pride at stake.

The manager said: “James has had a great, great season. I was delighted that the players entrusted him with the ball. He’s missed one or two in his time, so has John Carew and so has Ashley, but in a big moment like that he put one away at Wembley and did so again yesterday.

“It was a big moment. He’s a great player and he’s going to get better.”

O’Neill also praised the performance of goalkeeper Brad Friedel, after the veteran made a string of fine saves to frustrate Blues.

The Villa boss said: “Brad was absolutely fantastic. He’s got great experience, great ability. He works exceptionally hard, he lives very well indeed and he’s been terrific for us in the two years that he’s been here.

“Friedel was magnificent for us and on the second half performance Birmingham definitely deserved something from the game. In the first-half I thought we did very well.

“We got a little bit sloppy in the second half, started off not so brightly, Birmingham got their tails up and continued to play very well and put us under pressure.”