Downing hails Villa’s winning culture
Tuesday 27th April 2010, 10:00AM BST.
Villa winger Stewart Downing has hailed the winning culture boss Martin O’Neill has created at the club.
While Downing was embroiled in a relegation battle with Middlesbrough this time last year, the £12million summer signing is this season involved in a fight for fourth place.
The England international has also been to Wembley twice this season for a Carling Cup final and FA Cup semi-final and believes Sunday’s win over Birmingham was further evidence they are developing a knack of winning games even when they aren’t playing well.
He said: “It’s been brilliant. I’ve been to a cup final and a cup semi-final and we’re consistently winning games.
“It’s a winning environment really. It’s a big change from where I was last April when we were struggling. The team are playing well.
“Even when we don’t we are winning games and that’s a sign of a top team. All we can do is keep winning the games.
“We had to win against Birmingham. We have left ourselves with a great opportunity to finish fourth and end the season on a high.”
Downing believes evergreen keeper Brad Friedel’s brilliant performance against Blues is proof that age is no barrier to the veteran, who turns 39 next month.
He said: “Brad looks after himself, he’s fit and well. As long as he does that then he’ll carry on playing and you can see in his performances that age doesn’t matter.
“They were very good saves, he’s been doing that all season. He was quiet for a long time in the game, but when he was called upon he made some good saves and that’s the sign of a good goalkeeper.
“He made some great saves and sometimes you need a bit of your luck and your keeper to pull one or two off. He did that for us.”
UK Sport
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