Well, it looks like it's happened again.

A lack of investment during the January transfer window could just have cost Villa dear for the second season running.

And a blunt forward line continues to plague the chances of a Claret and Blue presence in the Champions League.

With Gabby Agbonlahor injured, the burden has fallen on big John Carew. Now, the big man has broad shoulders but not so broad as he can carry the weight of the team.

When the transfer window reopened at the turn of the year, one team made a telling investment - Tottenham.

And, it seems, that Harry Redknapp's men now have the greatest chance of finishing fourth in light of the fact that both Villa and Man City slipped up once again on Tuesday night.

Redknapp snapped up former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen from Spanish giants Barcelona in mid-season and the Icelandic international has begun to make a big impact.

He was delightful at Stoke last weekend as he scored and claimed an assist, while oozing class in every aspect of his game.

Gudjohnsen then added to his tally with the victory sealing strike against Fulham in the FA Cup and he could just help Spurs to lift the trophy in May.

Villa have missed a trick by not making a move for the creative hitman.

Their reliance on Emile Heskey and Nathan Delfouneso in recent weeks has posed problems, namely that the pair just aren't up to Premier League football.

Delfouneso will improve and make an impact next season, that seems almost certain, but Heskey will not.

He has a woeful goalscoring record this term and his all-round game is failing to make up for his lack of potency.

Agbonlahor has become an even more important figure through his absence from the team and O'Neill will be delighted to get him back.

But it could come too late, with key points already dropped against Wolves and Sunderland in the last week.

And you can't help but feel that had the Villa boss pestered Randy Lerner for just a couple of million to buy Gudjohnsen then things might just be different.

Yes, they still sit only four points adrift of Spurs in fourth and have some winnable games in the run-in, but without a cutting edge and with just Carew scoring, are they really able to pick up the points needed for a top-four finish?

O'Neill will now just be hoping that ace Agbonlahor is back and at it in the next week or so to paper over the cracks.