Villa boss O’Neill satisfied after Spurs stalemate

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says they remain in the top four battle after their 0-0 draw with Tottenham.

With Liverpool defeating Everton earlier in the day, the point means Spurs slip out of the top four and Villa remain within striking distance.

"It keeps us alive," O'Neill said. "I'm delighted with the effort because we have a team going week in and week out, and we showed great tenacity. It was probably was our best defensive performance of the season, given the opposition.

"I've had fine defenders in my time, at Leicester and Celtic, with the same mentality as these guys - willing to throw themselves everywhere."

Friedel added: "We want to get as many points as possible and get in that top four if at all possible. We'll strive for that."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp expects plenty more twists and turns before the end of the season in the race for fourth place.

He said: "Obviously it was a big result for Liverpool. They ground out a result. It's their weekend this week, it will be somebody else's next week, somebody else's the week after.

"Of course it's going to be tight, it's going to go all the way to the wire. You didn't see Manchester City getting beat at Hull, not many people would have tipped that one, would they?"