Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill admits he's excited by what his players are achieving this season.

"I can't pretend that it's not exciting because it is," he told Villa's website. "It's great to be up there - it's where you want to be. And it's where the players want to be.

"If you want to be contesting things, you've got to be up there.

"It's great and I am delighted we are where we are. There is a genuine excitement in and around the place, no doubt.

"But I think the players realise - whatever experience they have gathered from this Barclays Premier League - that it can flatten you as quickly as it can raise you up.

"We are enjoying this season and we are certainly enjoying the momentum we currently have but it can come to a halt at any given time.

"The great thing is that the players are very level-headed and they are not getting too carried away with it all."