We were beaten by a 'worldy'

Last updated : 28 October 2010 By Tony Scholes

Houllier introduced England internationals Emile Heskey and Stewart Downing during the second half and the two players responded with the goals that saw the Premier League side reach the quarter-finals.

"Credit to Burnley," Houllier said after the game. "They played well. We made it difficult because we should have scored at least one goal in the first half. We created enough chances. But we didn't.

"It looks like it affected our confidence. In the second half we didn't play as well as we should have done. Sometimes when you don't play well, you need to be resilient, dig in, fight hard and eventually we got the reward.

"I said to the players that the team who wins is the one which wants to qualify for the next round more than the other one.

"We scored a good goal, a fantastic goal, one touch football and break, good finish. But we were a bit unlucky with their goal. I don't know how the referee saw it, the foul. Emile touched the ball and just kicked it away. And from there it led to the equaliser.

"So I was a bit afraid the team would go down but, in fact, I noticed when I spoke to them before extra time that they wanted it. Despite the fatigue and tiredness, they wanted it which was good.

"After that, in extra time, you don't expect lots of football. We managed to score a second goal, by the second substitute. After that we lost a player - which was Marc Albrighton - which was a fair decision.

"He didn't touch their player a lot but he touched him. The referee did take the right decision. I wish I had that type of referee, by the way, against Sunderland. We had the same situation there and didn't get the penalty."

Houllier then spoke about his subs: "I wanted to rest some players but I knew at some stage with those players coming on when the others tired, it would make a difference. Emile made a difference and so did Stewart.

"The problem with a substitute is he must be in the right frame of mind. If they have the right attitude and their hunger is there, they bring something.

"Don't forget, both teams start at the same level of energy and then 20 per cent goes down for both teams. But the substitutes are at a higher level because they are fresh. That means they can bring some initiative, which was the case.

"The manager makes the decision to bring them in, but it's down to them. I didn't score the goals, they did."

Brian Laws was full of pride for his side after they had come so close to claiming another Premier League scalp on a ground where just a few months ago we'd conceded five goals.

He said: "Football is cruel at times and it was for us tonight. I thought we were magnificent, as were our fans.

"I was just delighted with the commitment and effort from the players and great praise must go to them because they were excellent tonight.

"I thought we were the better side and we were beaten by a 'worldy' and by Brad Friedel, who was the hero of the night and who has earned Villa a place in the quarter final. I was surprised he was playing and I hoped we would be rested. But he certainly earned his corn tonight because he pulled off some great saves.

"But as disappointed as we are with the result, we can't be with that performance. We got the shock of Saturday's performance out of our system and I am just so disappointed not to be in the draw."

Having praised Friedel, Laws also had words of praise for his own goalkeeper Lee Grant. He continued: "Lee Grant made an outstanding treble save early in the game and in the end it took a breathtaking strike from Downing to beat him. It had to be such a good striker to beat him because he was in such good form."

Only five players remained from Saturday's starting line up and Laws explained: "I made changes for the right reasons and three were forced upon me. For me that is credit to the squad and it shows the strength we have in depth that I wasn't weakening the side in any way, shape or form.

"It was a strong side and if we keep everyone fit and hungry and play like that we will win more than we lose. It's over now though and we have to go and put in another performance against QPR.

"There were probably two delighted managers tonight, but they weren't Gerard Houllier and myself. They were Neil Warnock and Alex McLeish because of the extra time."