Gareth Barry believes qualifying for the Intertoto Cup is just the start for Martin O'Neill's Villa and last night reflected: "We want to get ourselves back where we belong."

With O'Neill anticipating a busy summer in the transfer market, Barry expects a renewed push next term as Villa look to build on a sixth-place finish.

Villa will return to action in mid July for the third round stage of the Intertoto as clubs from 50 nations compete for 11 places in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round.

And Barry told www.avfc.co.uk: "Hopefully we can do the business in the Intertoto Cup and get ourselves back where we belong.

"It was always the aim to get that European spot - whether it be through the Intertoto or not. We could have finished as low as eighth if results had gone against us but we put the effort in and I think we deserved at least that sixth spot.

"We keep continuing to improve and I'm sure next year, with the help of new players, it will be another push.

"Everybody's gone home happy and I think the fans are pleased with the way we've gone about our business this season."

Looking at yesterday's dramatic match, Barry added: "It was an interesting game. There's always twists and turns on the last day of the season and that's the way it was today. You're sort of playing with half an eye on other results.

"But we got the draw and that was enough to see us into the Intertoto Cup. That's European football and that was always the aim.

"We scored 71 goals in the League this season and that's a great total - challenging the teams at the top of the table. We scored the most away goals and that shows the sort of football we've played this season. That's why the fans turned up in their numbers all year.

"Yesterday was all about the style of football we've tried to play all season. In the second-half especially we could have scored five or six. Their keeper made some good saves and we went close on a number of occasions."

Finally Barry paid tribute to departing team mate Olof Mellberg as the Swede gifted every travelling fan a Villa shirt to say farewell.

The skipper concluded: "It was a great gesture from Olof and the fans appreciated it. They sang his name throughout the 90 minutes.

"He got a good send-off and it looked like he scored a winner towards the end. That would have been a perfect send-off but it was just the wrong side of the post."

Tune into AVTV Online for much more reaction from yesterday's match.