O'Neill On Crunch Game & Lawro Says Villa Loss

Martin O'Neill says the Villa will focus on their own game tomorrow but knows the news from elsewhere will filter through.

He said on www.avfc.co.uk: 'I think it's an impossibility not to know. You're very aware and you're looking to see if the results are going in your direction. If things are going alright in your game then there's a big tendency to try and find out. Maybe someone in the backroom staff will keep an eye on things but you generally know by the tone and the mood of the crowd.'

'If we're in a decent position and things are going our way elsewhere, I think our crowd will let us know about it. If the last day in the Championship is anything to go by, we know it could fluctuate throughout the afternoon. There are so many things to play for up and down the Premier League. There'll be more than a few nerves up and down the country on Sunday. Of course it would be great if results could go our way, but we have got to look after our own game.'

Meanwhile BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson, stung by backing us a few times to win when we didn't show up, is predicting 2-1 to West Ham saying:

"Villa have been knocked flat by last week's defeat to Wigan, especially as Everton only need a point against Newcastle to qualify for Europe. West Ham have not been playing well of late and there is plenty of speculation about Alan Curbishley's future. But I think the Happy Hammers will win at the weekend and send the Upton Park faithful into raptures.'

He also tips Everton to beat Newcastle 2-0 after we failed to put pressure on them last week by not beating Wigan.

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