O’NEIL NOT HAPPY AFTER BEING HELD BY 10 MEN MAN UTD

Martin O'Neill is not happy after his team was held by 10 men Manchester United in the Premier League action on Wednesday.

Nani was sent off in the first half after making a ghastly two-footed challenge on Villa player.

 "When they had the man sent off, I was hoping we'd be able to take the initiative. But in the second half, we didn't create enough really and didn't make enough use of the extra man,” he told club’s official website.

"Having said that, we were playing against a real quality side who have been in situations like that before.

"I suppose if you'd told me at the start of the season that we would take four points against Manchester United I would have been pretty happy with that.

"When they had the man sent off, we almost played into their hands for 10 or 15 minutes and didn't get enough momentum going in the second half.

"When you consider we are playing against the champions who are going for their fourth successive title, one of the best teams in Europe - and have been for a considerable time - in the end, despite the fact we were at home, the draw was okay.

"It was a great goal for Carlos. He did brilliantly. The header was exceptional but then we didn't hold on for long enough really.

"We scored an own-goal soon after. I'd liked to have carved out more chances and we put on John (Carew) for the last half hour, hoping with the extra man that might make the difference.

"But Manchester United got into a bit of a rhythm themselves and probably thought they could win it by putting Berbatov on.

"So in the end I suppose I am satisfied to a certain extent but we're not jumping through hoops - although we have taken four points from them this season."

The boss also confirmed that the captain was "sore" after injuring his ankle in the ghastly two-footed tackle by Nani.

He continued: "He is pretty sore. He felt he was going to be okay at half-time. He said he could continue on. It certainly stiffened up a little bit.

"He thought he'd be okay. I took young Delph off, who did fine for us in the game although I thought he was getting a little bit tired. And then after we had done that, Stiliyan three or four minutes later was unable to continue.

"It must have been really sore if Stiliyan was unable to continue. I don't know about Sunday yet. There must be some sort of doubt about it. We will see. The doctor doesn't think there is any serious damage done."

The manager further thought that a tackle really qualified for the red card.

"I thought so. It was a red card - it was, “ he added.

"I have always been one for outlawing two-foot challenges. Stiliyan did well to manoeuvre out of the way. I have only seen it back once and I think it was a red card."