Villa chief banks on lady luck

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary is convinced his team can turn around the club’s worst start to a Premiership season.

Villa entertain Middlesbrough at Villa Park tomorrow having won just one of their opening seven league games and taking a paltry six points from a possible 21.

They are just three points ahead of bottom-of-the-table Everton but O’Leary is confident results will get better sooner rather than later.

O’Leary, who once again has major injury problems to contend with for the clash, said: “What we have to do is to start turning our good football into points.

“I would certainly feel a lot more worried if we were not playing well.

“I think we deserve more points that we have got at the moment.

“What we really seem to be lacking is a bit of luck. I have watched some games this season when I have seen teams have luck on their side and it has left me thinking ‘we could do with some of that.’

“At the moment we are not getting any luck at all. You only have to look at the injury problems we have had to see that.

“Hopefully things will balance themselves out over the season and it will not be long before our good play starts to deliver better results.”

But O’Leary is well aware Villa will have their work cut out to end their recent slump against a buoyant Middlesbrough side.

Boro may have had a hectic week after travelling to Greece to get past Xanthi in the UEFA Cup, but O’Leary does not expect them to be suffering from any fatigue.

He added: “Whatever team Middlesbrough put out I am expecting them to be fresh, confident and on a high after getting through in Europe.

“They will have had two days to recover from that European game and they also have a big squad to call on packed with quality players like Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.”

Having singled out Middlesbrough’s attacking options, O’Leary has made it clear that Villa’s back line will have to be at their best against Steve McClaren’s side.

It will be another tough test for Villa’s new £3.5m (€5.1m) left-back Wilfred Bouma who has endured something of a baptism of fire after his arrival from PSV Eindhoven.

Bouma gave away a penalty on his debut against Tottenham and then felt the full force of champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

But O’Leary is convinced the Dutch international will prove to be a valuable asset once he gets to grips with the fast pace of life in the Premiership.

O’Leary said: “It will take Wilfred a little time to settle.

“He has to get a bit fitter but I really do feel that he will turn out to be a quality left-back.

“He needs to settle down in this country and get used to the tempo of play. But I have been pleased with what I have seen so far.

“Both of us know that there is a lot more to come from him. He thinks that playing in England is fantastic with the atmosphere and the way that the game is played. The pace and passion of the matches is what he relishes.”

Villa are without the injured Lee Hendrie, Aaron Hughes, Martin Laursen, Mark Delaney, Kevin Phillips and Gavin McCann.

Milan Baros will have a late fitness test on an Achilles problem.