MON's Rallying Call

Martin O'Neill believes Villa have the "ability and talent" to turn things around and finish the season in real style.

O'Neill revealed his genuine excitement that his claret and blue troops are in with a chance of causing a real stir and breaking the Big Four's monopoly at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

He said: "I'm still very excited about the run-in. We're hoping that the break from top flight action will give us some impetus now to give it a really good go for this last charge.

"We're still in there fighting and we certainly haven't come all this distance to go and throw it all away.

"I believe we have the ability and talent in the squad to turn things around.

"We can still do it [finish in the top four] - absolutely. It became a talking point when we had a gap but, as I have said before, it was always going to be exceptionally difficult.

"The Big Four are the best in the country - it's no fluke - they have been there year-in and year-out. Everton broke in one season but other than that it's been a monopoly.

"They are there because they have good players and big squads. It seems crazy but this football club was nearly relegated a while back. We are battling in there near the top now. Sometimes I feel like that gets forgotten.

"But it certainly doesn't mean we can now just disintegrate. It will absolutely not be acceptable because the side should be stronger than that. I hope we are mentally tougher than that."