Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is insistent his players can overcome a period of poor form to qualify for European football next season. He told the Birmingham Mail: "When the team lose it is up to me to lift them and it is for others to try to knock them down.

"We have to stand tall in the position we are in. Expectations have gone as high as ever. That never bothers me.

"I have said this umpteen times that we want to have some sort of expectations.

"Occasionally you want a drop of realism in it but there is nothing wrong with expectation.

"It is up to us to try and match it. As for the negativity that is around, I am not too worried about that.

"There was plenty of it around about before and there will be plenty of it around again.

"You have to go and battle it. I would not be worried about other people outside the ones who can influence the team.

"With a bit of luck we are going to qualify for European football again for the second consecutive year. That is what I would call getting ahead of yourself."