Martin O'Neill on the Jabulani ball

Manager Martin O'Neill has revealed his relief that Villa won't have to be using the Jabulani again after labelling the much-maligned ball "strange."

The Adidas ball, widely criticised by goalkeepers and managers during the World Cup, was used for the Guadiana Cup in Portugal which Villa were involved in over the weekend.

O'Neill's team were on the receiving end of its unpredictable nature in Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Benfica.

First goalkeeper Brad Friedel could only parry a viciously veering long-range shot to leave Javier Saviola with the goal at his mercy and then an Oscar Cardoza free-kick swerved wickedly into the top corner.

And the Villa boss admitted he was unimpressed.

He said: "It doesn't half fly. It moves all over the place. I went out especially to have a little look at it as the boys were kicking it around and you could see it moving in flight like you wouldn't believe.

"It moves side to side a fair degree, maybe six inches to a foot. I think there's been such an outcry against it that they might decide in their wisdom to pack it in.

"It is certainly a strange looking ball."

However, it didn't do Villa any harm when Marc Albrighton and Steve Sidwell scored long-range screamers in the 3-1 win over Feyenoord on Saturday.

And winger Stewart Downing revealed forwards enjoy playing with the ball.

He said: "Obviously if you catch it right it will fly and I think you saw with that free-kick for Benfica's third goal, it moved everywhere.

"I think it's a bit of a nightmare for goalkeepers and defenders, but for us forwards if we smack it and catch it then it can go in from a long way.

"It's a little bit hard to play with, but hopefully now we'll get back to normal with the other balls."