West Brom boss Tony Mowbray rapped Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa after yesterday's 2-1 derby defeat.

Mowbray insisted he was not being critical of the style of play under Martin O'Neill as goals from Curtis Davies and an own goal from Scott Carson kept them in the top four.

But the Albion chief believes Villa are mainly a threat on the counter-attack after seeing his own side pay the penalty for some poor defending.

Mowbray said: "That game epitomised us. We had plenty of the ball, moved it around well, and they were only a threat on the counter-attack. They were not creating any clear-cut chances and yet they found themselves 2-0 up.

"Villa are winning games. Everyone has got their own beliefs on how to play football and ultimately it is only results that matter to people.

"Villa are winning games and good luck to them. But all their chances came from breakaway football. That is what they do.

"They have got Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. They are a counter-attacking team. They are not really interested in playing football.

"That is why teams like us are a dream for Aston Villa because we try to retain the ball and move it around. There is space for them to break.

"We all sat and watched their game at Hull recently. You can either have two teams who understand each other's play and not get any shots all game until the 96th minute, like at Hull, when an own goal decided it.

"Alternatively you can get a game like today where one team is attacking and the other are counter-attacking. I enjoy watching my team.

"We are a good football team and if that is the top four side, today, when we are playing away, I don't think we should overly concern ourselves that we are not good enough to play in this league.

"But I am not saying I don't like the way Villa play. I am very respectful. There is no right or wrong way. We have all got our own philosophies.

"Whether they are good enough to finish in the top four, we will know at the end of the season."