Collins in command says boss.

Byline: Mat Kendrick

MARTIN O'Neill has paid tribute to James Collins by hailing Villa's surprise success story as "a real player". The pounds 5 million signing of Collins from West Ham failed to capture the imagination of many Villa supporters. But the Welsh international has started to prove his critics wrong with a string of commanding performances.

Collins, like the entire Villa defence, had a rare off day in the away defeat at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago.

However, he bounced back with another solid display in Monday evening's 1-1 draw with Manchester City at Villa Park.

Richard Dunne stole the show against his former club, but O'Neill was just as pleased with how Collins competed.

James Collins.

The Villa boss feels the ex-Cardiff centre half has provided the defensive composure his side have lacked since Martin Laursen's retirement.

"I thought Dunne was magnificent and he was named man of the match apparently, but I also thought his partner alongside him, Collins, was fantastic," said O'Neill.

"Collins is a real player, he can play it, he goes and heads it and competes and he's got composure on the ball. That is something that we perhaps haven't had in the past and it's nice to be able to see it.

"We can actually attempt to take the sting out of the game, although I wish we'd have done it for City's goal, but we played very well.

"When Martin Laursen went we were conceding a few, but I think the players that have come in have really been excellent."