If you'd read the papers after the 7-1 mauling to Chelsea, you'd think Villa had been relegated, not just beaten.

There's no question it was a heavy scoreline but Brad Friedel is adamant Villa never lost heart or focus because of it.

And now Martin O'Neill's men stand two games away from a possible top four spot and entry into the Champions League qualifiers.

Indeed, it was the boss who was at his influential best in the wake of that Chelsea defeat.

Friedel revealed O'Neill told the players their second half performance had been well below par but that it shouldn't let it affect their season.

His stars have clearly responded and now go to Eastlands with renewed enthusiasm.

"The manager said what needed to be said - 'boys we had a pathetic 30 minutes of football, don't let it kill your season.' It was a very simple point.

"He said that just before the Bolton game. We went out there and got a result and we have had some good results since then and here we are, back in the race.

"The way people get carried away with one result in this country, from time to time, is remarkable to see to be honest.

"But it also makes the whole fervour of football very exciting. We know there are 38 league games and nothing will be decided until the 38th is played.

"The Chelsea match was just a one-off. Sometimes you get them in a season.

"We have defended as a team so well all season that it was a very strange result and performance.

"It wasn't even the performance over the whole game, it was just the final 20 or 25 minutes.

"The nice thing is we went straight to Bolton, which is a tough place to play, and got straight back on the clean sheet trail and three points there.

"That helped everyone's confidence again so everyone knew it was just a one-off.

"We just took that Chelsea result as a team. You're then really anxious for the next game to come around to be honest. I would have preferred to be playing Bolton away the next day. Obviously you can put things right.

"But that's just sport and that's the way it is. You get wins, losses and draws and the great thing we showed was the character after that defeat."

Friedel accepts - on the outside - Villa aren't favourites in the top four race but he insists confidence in the dressing room is high ahead of this afternoon's clash.

He added: "We were counted out of the race for fourth about five or six weeks ago. But now we are well and truly in it.

"While we won't be considered favourites from the outside, in the changing room we really think we have a more than a good chance to finish in that spot."