Villa and Saints in bore draw

Gregory saw Villa's European hopes dented

A Villa 0-0 Southampton

Villa extended their unbeaten run to nine games but their clash with Southampton was an instantly forgettable one.

Neither side deserved to take all three points from a game that was sadly lacking in both quality and memorable moments.

Not even the appearance of David Ginola at the start of the second half could spark Villa into life as their hopes of claiming a European place took a major dent.

James Beattie did have the ball in the net for the visitors on 37 minutes, but his bullet header was ruled out for offside.

  Key moments

37mins: Beattie header ruled out for offside

68mins: James parries close-range Beattie shot

81mins: Dublin shoots wide with just keeper to beat

It looked a dubious decision from the assistant referee.

Beattie looked onside as he directed Kevin Davies' inviting cross past a hapless David James.

But as Beattie began to celebrate, referee Jeff Winter blew his whistle to signal a Villa free-kick.

The home side almost broke the deadlock five minutes before the break when Darius Vassell went close.

We've been robbed of a goal but it's a well-earned point - if we carry on like that we'll turn draws into wins

  Saints caretaker Stuart Gray

His near-post header from Alan Wright's pin-point cross flew just over with Saints keeper Paul Jones beaten.

Vassell, who had a half-hearted penalty claim turned down on 33 minutes, was Villa's chief dangerman in a poor first half.

The England Under-21 international chested the ball inches wide on 23 minutes then stabbed a shot the wrong side of the post eight minutes later.

Wright was the provider on both occasions, his left-wing crosses giving the Saints defence all sorts of problems.

I wouldn't say it was a stinker but it was a stalemate

  Villa assistant Steve Harrison

The left-back's defending was less than solid, though.

A slip inside the first 20 minutes let in Davies, whose cross would have been converted at the far post by Beattie had it not been for a last-gasp tackle by Gareth Southgate.

Given the lack of spark shown by both sides, it came as no surprise when Villa turned to Ginola shortly after the break.

The flamboyant Frenchman, who scored in the midweek draw with Charlton, replaced a lacklustre Ian Taylor on 53 minutes.

But even he failed to inject some much-needed life into the game.

Instead, it was Southampton who went closest to ending the stalemate on 68 minutes, when Beattie was denied by James.

Vassell was Villa's main threat against Saints

The Villa defence opened up in front of the Saints striker, but his fierce shot from close range was parried away brilliantly by the Villa goalkeeper.

Two chances came the home side's way in the final 12 minutes.

Vassell's cross-cum-shot was tipped over by Jones then Dion Dublin blasted wide with just the Saints keeper to beat.

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Aston Villa: James, Delaney, Southgate, Barry, Wright, Merson, Taylor, Boateng, Hendrie, Dublin, Vassell. Subs: Staunton, Joachim, Stone, Ginola, Enckelman.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Richards, Lundekvam, Bridge, Tessem, Draper, Oakley, Kachloul, Beattie, Davies. Subs: Moss, Marsden, Rosler, Pahars, El Khalej.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).