O’Neill stresses Villa’s need for derby delight

ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill accepts there will be more than just local bragging rights at stake in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League showdown with Birmingham at Villa Park.

Victory for the hosts would not only be sweet for their fans but would also keep O’Neill’s side on course for a possible place in next season’s Champions League.

Back-to-back wins against Portsmouth and Hull have put Villa firmly in the shake-up for a fourth-place finish.