Reality bites for Villa’s stargazers

THE harsh demands of gatecrashing the Premier League’s top four are beginning to bite at Aston Villa.

Martin O’Neill’s side have seen the plaudits pile high this season, their heady combination of youth, speed and skill making them the unquestioned neutrals’ favourite, but results such as this have a habit of bringing a side down to earth with a resounding thud.

Villa are continuing to labour against the division’s lesser lights — they have won just three of their eight home games this term — and unless that record improves quickly, it is impossible to see how they can break the established elite.