Villa have a demanding schedule this month, the result of a fixture backlog caused by their lengthy involvement in the Carling Cup and ongoing participation in the FA Cup, in which they visit Reading in the quarter-finals tomorrow. O'Neill was hoping the Premier League would look kindly on their request to space out fixtures but has revealed their request has received an unsympathetic response. He said: "We have got no midweek games in April at the moment but something like 7,000 in March as things stand! "I've been reminded that we haven't won a game in March since I've been here. We'll now have an opportunity every two and a half days to change that. "Because we have played as many games as anyone else as a Premier League in the last two months, with replays and League Cup semi-finals, we asked the Premier League for a bit of help. "We asked if we could stretch things out a little for when the weather gets a bit better and we could play some re-arranged games in April. "With the worse scenario, even if we got through the Reading tie after a replay and had to change the date of the Everton league game, there was still time in April to fit things in. "But the Premier League want to get the fixtures in during March so we've got plenty of time to repent during April. There is no leeway for us at all." O'Neill is anticipating Villa having to pull out all the stops to overcome revitalised Reading as they look to bounce back from their Carling Cup final loss against Manchester United. The Royals will be aiming for a third Premier League scalp in the competition, having already overcome Liverpool and Burnley. O'Neill said: "Reading have done very well. Brian McDermott has stepped in there as manager and revitalised them. "I think the game itself will be very difficult, as every bit as difficult, if not more, than against Crystal Palace in the last round. You saw how difficult that tie was for us. "But, if ever there was an incentive to get back to Wembley again, last Sunday should be it. There was disappointment at the time and it is exactly the same feeling today." Central defender Richard Dunne should be fit after missing the Republic Of Ireland's friendly with Brazil in midweek with a leg injury.
