Vassell helps Villa beat Saints

Turkey international Alpay paid Darius Vassell the compliment of his young life on Saturday when he said he would sooner face Ronaldo than the Aston Villa striker.

'He can be the main man for England in the World Cup, not just a substitute or bit-part player,' said the Villa defender, forced by his lingering ankle injury to watch from the sidelines as Vassell struck twice to give Villa only their second win in 12 games under Graham Taylor.

Alpay added: 'I have no idea how defenders can stop him. He's improved so much this season he'll be one of the stars of the tournament.'

Vassell scored his first with a looping header from Thomas Hitzlsperger's seventh-minute cross and fired in his 13th goal of the season on 42 minutes. James Beattie cut the deficit as the Saints bossed the second half.

Beattie - Vassell's strike partner at England Under 21 level - said: 'He was quality then. I'm not surprised how well he's done.'