Southgate stands strong against hate mob

There were no winners at Villa Park - except, that for Gareth Southgate. The England defender his unnecessarily hostile reception to produce a flawless and assured performance in this goalless draw - and the thousands of Aston Villa fans who subjected their former skipper to an incessant barrage of boos ought to be feeling somewhat shame-faced. Though not on the scale of malevolence which greeted Sol Campbell at White Hart Lane, the abuse directed at Southgate was totally out of proportion to the 'offence' of quitting a club he suspected failed to match his own ambition. And the angry fans served only to strengthen Southgate's resolve to

'No matter what they threw at me, it was never going to alter the fact that I had a fantastic time at Villa and I am big enough to take their reaction on the chin,' he said.'It's a shame, but that's football now.' The re-forged defensive partnership between Southgate and the other former Villa man, Ugo Ehiogu, was largely for snuffing out any attacking menace an otherwise dominant Villa side.

But the pair did their old club one final favour, perhaps, by showing them there is still more spending required as they push for Champions League qualification. There was better news for manager John Gregory yesterday when doctors informed him that Vassell requires rest, rather than surgery, to cure his ongoing knee problem.