Aston Villa deserve recognition for where they have got themselves in the Premier League, according to their manager. Martin O'Neill's side have climbed to third in the Premier League after a Gabriel Agbonlahor header gave them a 1-0 victory over Manchester United – the first time Villa had won at Old Trafford since 1983. The team have also beaten fellow big guns Liverpool and Chelsea this season, and the Irish manager thinks his players should get greater credit for what they have achieved. He claims his squad has real ability and it is unfair that they are labelled as industrious and scrappers who can resort to long-ball tactics when needed. "There is an ability within our squad that sometimes gets overlooked. People looked at our away results last season and decided we were a counter-attacking side. There is nothing wrong with that. Manchester United have won championships like it," he said. "We have also tightened up defensively. I know we have improved. A couple of years ago we could not have performed like we have been." O'Neill recently came out to end rumours that striker John Carew was set to leave Villa in a £5 million move to Turkish side Fenerbache. The Norwegian has been preferred to Emile Heskey by O'Neill this season, who insists Carew is a key part of his plans at Villa Park.