James Milner insists Aston Villa Football Club have enjoyed a great season.

Despite failing to build on their challenge to pip Arsenal to the final UEFA Champions League place, Milner believes Villa have had a fine campaign.

"The negativity does not come from us. We know that we can play better and results have not been going our way," said the midfielder.

"We have tried to put that right and we have been playing better the last few weeks. We have been unlucky and not had the rub of the green.

"When you start the season as well as we did, then expectations rise.

"Maybe if we had started really badly and finished the last two thirds of the season the way we started, done things the other way around, people would have said 'what a great season'.

"It's one of those things and the way people look at things. We are still on for fifth place. It is a great achievement. We have had a good season we just have to make sure we finish strongly."

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