3-2

“It was an amazing finish and I could not be more delighted.

“It is a phenomenal victory for us - and the manner in which we did it speaks volumes for the ability and spirit of the team.

“Ashley Young was absolutely world class. He is a magnificent footballer and he put his chances in the net superbly.

“We got a great start but Everton clawed their way into the game and then put us under enormous pressure. We were under the cosh for long periods.

“They got an equaliser and just when you thought the referee was going to blow the whistle, Young comes up with a world class finish to win the match. I am ecstatic.”

Martin O'Neill.



"It was an incredible goal from an incredible, world-class footballer.

"It was sensational and an extraordinary finale. I work with Ash every day and he produces finishes like that, but he is the sort of fellow that can produce on the big day. He is only eight and a half stone wet through but he has the heart of a lion and he is getting better. He is a world-class player. I know I'm eulogising him here but he is world class and he makes things happen. The expectations now from myself, the players and the supporters is that he can always make something happen and here he did.

"He defends a post at corners, gets up the other end to score, and works himself into the ground. And the skill he has, to beat players and still put it into the net, is brilliant."

Martin O’Neill on Ashley Young.


"We have confidence, strength and a strong mentality.

”We have our aims and we are getting there. Even when Everton equalised earlier in injury time, we didn't give up. We keep going right to the end, and it paid off.

"You could tell from the celebrations after the winning goal just how much we wanted it. It was a great game to be involved in and we were delighted with the three points.

"When Joleon Lescott scored their second it was heartbreaking for us after the way we had played. But everyone could see the character and the strength we have got to keep going right to the whistle. We made it happen. I had the pace and was able to produce the finish to match it, I knew where I wanted to put the ball, we always talk of making sure we go right to the end, and it paid off. We are intent on doing better than last season and we are on course to do that.

"We will keep going the way we have been. It's all about concentration and team spirit. We are doing this without John Carew, he is a massive player for us, but we have the squad to deal with such injuries. We have added to the squad, and we are able to produce results like at Everton.

"It is a difficult place to go to, they are a strong side, but we are proving we can handle things. Hopefully that will continue during the Christmas and New Year programme. The character, strength and mentality we have in the squad carries us through."

Ashley Young.


"I think Ashley's a world-class performer, I really do.

"I don't use [those words] too often but he's absolutely class. And he's far from reached his peak. If you look at other top quality players who are 22 or 23 and who are absolutely brilliant ... you look at people like Ronaldo and Messi and ask how they can improve, but they do, they just get better."

"Yes. I've just put him in it. This is my opinion. I look at players; I see a lot of games in Europe, I watch a lot of football and you see a lot of players playing the game who are very functional. Some are decent, some are more than decent and some are very good. And then you have players who are absolutely exceptional and Ashley Young is absolutely exceptional.

"Could you name me two dozen players in the world who could have scored the second goal that he scored against Everton? [in Sunday's 3–2 win for Villa]. I can't. To have the presence of mind ... in the last minute of a game in which he had worked tirelessly ... to have the energy to do it was remarkable. To have that poise was world-class."

Martin O’Neill.