Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne has hailed their resurgence in the top four chase.

Dunne thinks their never-say-die attitude was encapsulated with the team's late win over Blues.

He told the club's website: "A lot of people just classed it as the end of our season when we lost to Chelsea.

"But we still felt there were games there to win and we thought we could put a run together and keep that challenge going for fourth. It's turned out that way. We've given ourselves a chance with two games to go.

"The derby was a very tough game. Since the last win over them - on my debut - they have gone on to have a really good season.

"They came to Villa Park to try and get the bragging rights and to knock us off course for fourth. As it panned out it looked like they might do it but we managed to get the penalty and James took it brilliantly.

"That is the strength of the team - keeping going even when things have appeared to be going against us.

"We have always dug in. The week has been a tough one but we've come out with three great victories."