Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill refused to blame fatigue as the reason behind the team's recent slump in form. Villa have now won just once in their last 12 league games and Everton are only a point behind them in the race to finish in the top five.

"That is just too easy an excuse," said O'Neill.

"There are contributing factors, as there always are at a football club. Yes, we have been on the go a long time, yes, like Fulham, we don't have the largest squad in the world.

"The two teams have played the least number of players in the Premier League. I do accept that it takes its toll, I accept all of those things and maybe that is something we can learn from this season.

"But for us to be contesting European football this season, you do need quality in the squad and quality is hard to come by.

"That is something we would have a look at in the summer if it is at all possible. I accept all of those points. However, you would not have believed, if you had gone for a cup of tea at half-time, that we could come out and slump badly in the second half.

"We had taken the game to Fulham in the first half but well played to Fulham. It is a great season for them but for us it was definitely a big disappointment in the second half of the game. I am not so sure you can attribute tiredness to that second half.

"They are a young side. We can improve. We flirted with the top four for a number of weeks at the time Arsenal were not at their strongest."