We've got to keep giving the belief to the players

Last updated : 22 February 2010 By Tony Scholes
He saw Steven Fletcher give us the lead and then, after a first half equaliser, watched as his side went goal crazy early in the second half. "I am delighted," O'Neill said after the game.

"I thought we started pretty slowly. That said, we did have Stiliyan's [Petrov] shot which went wide when Gabby [Gabriel Agbonlahor] laid it off to him just around the edge of the box.

"I thought that might get us going. In fact, it was actually the cue for Burnley to score. And in a game where expectation was very high, with us trying to win, to come from behind was very pleasing.

"We didn't get into gear. We were sluggish. We were hoping we would get to grips with the game. I thought we got the equalising goal and there was a kind of relief around the ground about that.

"Stewart [Downing] scored a great second goal for us, to put us in front, and then we had a spell where we were just electric. It was great. The goals we got, but not just that, the movement was terrific and also the ability to finish them off, which has not been our strongest point in quite some time.

"But it was really pleasing indeed, pleasing for the fans and there was a bit of relief for myself. But overall I am delighted."

Like all the Burnley supporters, Brian Laws was counting the cost of the spell in the second half when Villa hit is for four goals. "In the first half I thought we were excellent, the game plan was spot on and we deserved to go one up.

"I thought we were very bright, organised and solid. The disappointing thing is we conceded a goal from a set play, although it was the second phase which has gone under the foot of about three people.

"But we didn't collapse; we re-grouped and got to the second half. We started the second half as we started the first. I thought we were excellent again, but the second goal was a killer.

"It was a sloppy throw-in which allowed them to break down the sides, and we've said all along that if you allow good players like they've got, particularly in wide areas with pace, they're going to hurt you.

"That second goal was the turning point because we had a crazy 10-12 minutes in which we lost the game and it was in that period that all the damage was done. You can't rectify it after that period because we're too far out of the water.

"They brushed us aside in that period because we allowed that. If I could take that period away we could have got a result out of it, but we're looking at another defeat now.

"It's a body blow. Nobody wants to lose games but we've got to move on. We can't dwell on it and dismantle the team performance. We've got to keep giving the belief to the players because they need that belief.

"They need to know we're right behind them and we're going to support them all the way. They've worked so hard to be in the Premier League and we don't want to give it up. We will get over that hurdle and we will get a result before the end of the season away from home. I'm absolutely confident about that."