Berger forces Warnock down to wire

Aston Villa 3

Sheffield Utd 0

Half-time: 2-0

Attendance: 42,551

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Martin O'Neill stifled a grin of excited satisfaction last night after guiding his improving Aston Villa to this comfortable triumph, in a carnival atmosphere, over a hapless Sheffield United, who face a final nail-biting scrap for survival against drop candidates Wigan Athletic next Sunday.

O'Neill, promised a summer transfer-window "war-chest" by the American owner-chairman Randy Lerner, has a cluster of good youngsters and, after winning the manager of the month award for April, saw his team extend their unbeaten run to eight games with their best home showing in months. But, instead of whooping with delight, he reined in rising expectations.

"That was as good as we have played all season," he said in deadpan fashion. "But we still have miles to go." At least he could smile. For Neil Warnock, it was a different story. Leaving possible litigation aside, the final day cliff-hanger at Bramall Lane is likely to attract a multitude of viewers who are soundly advised to hide behind their sofas as his men seek the win that would, or draw that might, secure another season on the elite gravy train.

But here Warnock, grinning broadly, was magnanimous in defeat even if he had to bite his tongue when asked about the Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's decision to make nine team changes yesterday at Fulham.

"If I told you what I think, I'd be in trouble," he said. The unspoken suggestion that Benitez's lack of respect for the Premiership had manipulated events in the relegation battle was easily understood. "We had a bad day at the office here, but Villa were excellent and we obviously played the wrong team on the wrong day."

Three excellent goals - Gabriel Agbonlahor, with a spin and rasping shot, Ashley Young, a rapid weaving run and low drive, and then Patrik Berger, a perfectly placed shot after deft footwork and a sublime one-two off John Carew - had exposed the visit-ors' defensive deficiencies inside an hour as Villa dominated and teased Warnock's team in front of a full house attracted to Villa Park by the prospect of seeing their 1982 European Cup-winning squad before kick-off.

"Seeing the '82 team out there really gave the place a lift and the atmosphere was special today," said O'Neill. "It is great to be reminded that the club have won the European Cup and we should not hide that under a bushel. I told the players that we have to set out to follow them, but they were really heady days and we have a long way to go."

The dominance of Carew caught the eye and his presence created the space for Agbonlahor and Young to show their speed and skill. "We could not stay with them today," conceded Warnock. "But next weekend will be different with 32,000 fans behind us and we are in control of our own destiny. We are still biting the steel in Sheffield."

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