Villa's remarkable 3-2 win at Everton yesterday, when Ashley Young grabbed two goals including the 94th-minute winner, saw Villa take a six-point lead over Everton as they moved back into fifth spot.

The midlands side are now just a point behind Arsenal in fourth, with Everton boss David Moyes claiming that O'Neill's men "are now the most likely side to crack the top four".

O'Neill said: "We have a bit of a gap now between ourselves and Everton, and a number of other teams. But I do not put much score on that at the moment, there is a lot more can happen.

"Who knows what Manchester City will do in the transfer window? I will not start looking at gaps for a while yet. If we can win four or five on the trot, then I might start thinking in those terms.

"Then we may have made the sort of improvement to give us a chance. I hear what David Moyes has said, and that coming from such a good manager is pleasing. But that does not really mean much, although it is flattering to hear.

"But Everton have shown the same resilience over the last couple of years, it is those qualities that have come from them and we are searching for.

"We are definitely improving. For the moment we are ecstatic."

O'Neill praised Young's "world class" ability that clinched a remarkable victory.

He said: "It was an incredible last minute. And it has so much to do with Young. He is an incredible footballer, world class. Sensational.

"He's about eight stone wet through, but with a heart the size of a lion. And he is getting better and better.

"He makes things happen. There is an expectation now over him not just from myself, but his colleagues and the crowd. He is terrific.

"He is always positive and wants to attack. Even when he had been put through for that winner, he still had miles to go, but he found that energy in the 94th minute after being up and down the pitch for us all game.

"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."

Steve Sidwell put Villa ahead after just 34 seconds, only for Joleon Lescott to equalise near the break.

It took an horrific backpass from Phil Jagielka to give Villa their second, Young punishing the mistake.

But Lescott's second, also in injury-time, looked to have saved a point for Everton before Young struck again in the dying seconds.

Moyes now believes that Villa can crack the top four.

He said: "Villa have the players and the financial backing to be likely contenders for a place in the top four.

"We did everything we could. We had a couple off the line and hit the bar. I have been looking for a good performance and that was what we got, only the result was wrong.

"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb against a side who are excellent on the break."