Davies wants to gatecrash the party

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Villa, who face Hull on Tuesday night, have gatecrashed the top four this season and Davies is convinced the Boxing Day comeback to draw 2-2 against Arsenal marks them out as genuine Champions League contenders.

"We are in our current position because we have deserved it," he said. "It was a massive result for us against Arsenal and a massive boost for us."

He addded: "If we can follow up that performance at Hull we will be well on the way to maintaining our impressive form.

"But the Hull game is tricky in the light of their last two defeats.

"They could easily bite back as they have done well against the big clubs. We have to be very wary of a side who have suffered an injury to their pride.

"Going into 2009 we now need to keep doing everything we have done already this season.

"We have played very well for the first half of the season but we know that it is no use slowing down in the second half.

"We need to keep it going to remain one step ahead of the opposition.

"There is a massive spirit in the club and to come back from being 2-0 down against a team like Arsenal is a tremendous achievement. We have to take confidence from this performance."