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O'Neill lauds Villa's 'best' win
09:45, Dec 20 2009
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill hailed his side's single-goal success over Stoke as their "best win of the season" as they sustained their push for a Champions League spot.
Substitute John Carew's second-half header - his fifth goal of the season - was enough to earn a fourth successive win for Villa. It came at the end of a demanding week which had seen them win at Manchester United and Sunderland while Stoke had an eight-day break from action.
O'Neill said: "My own view is it may well be our best win of the season so far. We had to really dig deep. There were passages in the first half where we played really well but Stoke were dangerous all the time."
He added: "We got the goal and there were a lot of last-ditch tackles with players prepared to put their bodies on the line.
"We got over the line and it was a great win for us after going to Old Trafford last Saturday evening and then away to Sunderland in midweek.
"We've gone with the same team for the last three games and I was concerned how much energy we might have left towards the end of the game particularly with Stoke not having played in midweek."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis was upset at striker Mamady Sidibe having a first-half `goal' disallowed following an aerial challenge with Stephen Warnock.
But he felt his side had enough chances overall to have earned a share of the spoils against Villa.
He said: "I think the disallowed goal from Sidibe is an injustice. It is a very poor decision.
"It is not the first time that has happened to us. The referee thought he climbed all over Warnock but I disagree. Warnock threw his hands out to make it look as if he had been pushed. It was a poor decision but we have to take it on the chin."
Charnley inspires Wigan triumph 20:45, Feb 11 2012
Winger Josh Charnley scored a hat-trick of tries as Wigan bounced back from their shock opening home defeat by Huddersfield with a clinical 20-6 destruction of Stobart Super League champions Leeds. more
Spurs fans show Redknapp the love 20:45, Feb 11 2012
Tottenham's fans pleaded with Harry Redknapp to snub England and stay at White Hart Lane as the Spurs boss masterminded a brutal 5-0 hammering of Newcastle. more
France/Ireland clash called off 20:45, Feb 11 2012
Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash with France has been postponed due to the weather conditions in Paris. more
Adebayor inspires Spurs romp 19:45, Feb 11 2012
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp ended an emotional week on a huge high as his team ruthlessly hammered Newcastle 5-0 at White Hart Lane. more
England claim narrow Italy victory 18:45, Feb 11 2012
England dug themselves out of a snow-hole in freezing Rome to beat Italy 19-15 with another charge-down try from Charlie Hodgson and Owen Farrell's perfect kicking display. more
Chelsea suffer defeat at Everton 17:45, Feb 11 2012
Steven Pienaar and Denis Stracqualursi struck as Everton piled on the pressure for Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas with a 2-0 victory. more
Late Henry winner rescues Arsenal 17:45, Feb 11 2012
Substitute Thierry Henry marked the final league game of his loan spell at Arsenal with a last-gasp winner to see off Sunderland 2-1. more
McArthur clinches Wigan victory 17:45, Feb 11 2012
James McArthur boosted Wigan's survival hopes with a dramatic goal which handed the Latics a 2-1 win over fellow Barclays Premier League strugglers Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. more
Williams inspires Quins win 17:45, Feb 11 2012
Harlequins returned to winning ways as winger Tom Williams helped orchestrate a 30-23 victory over London Irish which extended their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership. more
Fleming and Hutchins put GB ahead 16:45, Feb 11 2012
Great Britain moved to within one rubber of a fifth consecutive Davis Cup win under captain Leon Smith after Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins beat Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek of Slovakia at Glasgow's Braehead Arena. more
Cold snap affects sporting weekend 15:45, Feb 11 2012
The cold snap continued to wreak further havoc with the sporting calendar on Saturday after the npower Championship clash between Peterborough and West Ham was postponed due to a frozen pitch along with a number of League One and League Two matches. more
Rangers ease to win at Dunfermline 15:45, Feb 11 2012
Lee McCulloch grabbed his first goal of the season as Rangers fought back from behind to claim a 4-1 win and deny Dunfermline their first home victory of the season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. more
