O’Neill shrugs off criticism as Wembley on the horizon

MARTIN O’NEILL is three days away from securing Aston Villa’s first cup final appearance for a decade – but that has not stopped him becoming the latest victim of the grumpy inhabitants in the seats behind the dug-out at Villa Park.

The serial moaners, who sit just yards behind the Villa manager made former manager David O’Leary’s life a misery and more notoriously threw coins at Harry Redknapp during a visit as Portsmouth manager two seasons ago.

Now they have unwisely and unfairly decided to take on O’Neill after more dropped home points against Gianfranco Zola’s side prevented them from re-entering the race for the top four and capitalising on Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham’s failure to win 24 hours earlier.