Martin O'Neill is looking for Aston Villa to take out their recent
frustrations on Blackburn Rovers and close in on a Carling Cup
final place.
O'Neill's stars have been left kicking their heels for the
last 12 days since beating Blackburn in the third round of the FA
Cup.
The winter weather that has gripped the country put paid to
the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final with Rovers last
Tuesday and then Saturday's league game at Wigan.
That has left the Villa squad frustrated and itching for a
return to action, which should be on Thursday night at Ewood Park
providing there is no late drama with the conditions.
"Because there have been almost universal postponements, I
don't think it's as big a problem as you might imagine," said
O'Neill. "Yes, we've a couple of league cup semi-finals to play,
and they have to be played midweek, and they're an extra couple of
games.
"But they're an extra couple of games we're delighted to be
playing in.
"So overall, it's been frustrating, the frustration stemming
from the fact we've travelled overnight to our last two games, and
both have been called off the next day.
"However, that's the nature of things, and you just get on
with it.
"If we had known the games were going to be called off then
you could almost have treated it like a mini break.
"But because you've prepared for something, expecting it to
happen and then it doesn't materialise, I don't consider it as a
break as such.
"Therefore it's not the same as if you've gone away to Dubai
or something like that for a couple of days.
"If you've had the luxury of doing that, then well done.
That's what I would call a proper break.
"But now we've got these two games - hopefully. We've gone
this far and we're going to try and put everything into them."
Although O'Neill refers to the Premier League as the 'holy
grail' he recognises at this stage of a cup competition the
possibility of silverware deserves respect.
"At this stage I just think getting into a position to
contest a League Cup final would be great news for the football
club," added O'Neill. "I've said it before and I'm reiterating,
since 1982 Aston Villa haven't contested that many finals.
"There's been a couple of League Cup wins which have been
great and there was the final of the FA Cup in 2000.
"But perhaps you would be expecting a little bit more and, as
the expectation rises here, I am hoping we are able to accommodate
that expectation."
O'Neill has no fresh injury concerns to contend with and is
likely to name a full-strength side, albeit with goalkeeper Brad
Guzan to continue his cup duties ahead of regular number one Brad
Friedel.
