Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has played down his scouting trip to Coventry to see the Sky Blues play Wolves last week.

"It was difficult not to be seen at Coventry City,'' he said. "You are in a prime position. It is important to get in as many games as you possibly can.

"If we are playing on a Sunday then I will always go to a game when the opportunity arises on a Saturday.

"Coventry is just down the road. After training it can take me less than half-an-hour to get there. I wouldn't read much more into it than that. It is my job to attend games. Don't worry, I do get time."

O'Neill also had scouts at the key European games this week.

He added: "There are a lot of big games going on at home and abroad. We have people in position to be going to the games, but we have been doing that for quite some considerable weeks now."