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Burley on Villa - Ipswich Town News

George Burley has warned that Aston Villa are not to be overlooked when the visit Portman Road tomorrow. The Town boss and striker Marcus Bent say they are not too much in fear of Town's run-in.

Of Saturday's game Burley says: "The way the league is, everyone is playing for something. Most teams have eight games left, 24 points to be won, and I'm sure Villa feel they can still qualify for Europe.

"However, we know that a couple of wins would push us up the table and into contact with plenty of other teams and we will be looking to use the home advantage to gain three valuable points."

"We were very poor at Blackburn in the first half, but very good in the second and then did well at Newcastle, but we have to make sure we perform well as a team for the full 90 minutes."

"We will treat all the games the same, there are points to be won. Some of our fixtures look very tough but we won at Anfield last season and drew at home with Manchester United, so it can be done."

Striker Marcus Bent agrees: "There's no point worrying about those games when they are several weeks away."

The ex-Blackburn man was pleased to be back in the side at Newcastle last week, but despite the improved performance still thinks the side's confidence could be higher: "It was great for me to get those goals. I had been dropped for a while but that's life and you have to get on with it.

"My confidence is not 100 per cent, nor is the team's, but last week gave us all a boost. The spirit has always been fine though, and the banter and morale remains good."

Tomorrow's game sees the first Town-Villa game at Portman Road since last summer's transfer squabble over Hassan Kachloul. The Moroccan agreed to join Town but later went back on that agreement when Aston Villa offered him more money.

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