Villa fizzle out despite Hadji strike

It cost Villa valuable time and was all the more puzzling because Angel and Dublin had made large contributions to the 3-1 victory at Southampton on Monday night.

It was Balaban?s first start since his £6million signing from Dinamo Zagreb a month ago ? and it showed. The 22-year- old looked short of match fitness but Gregory was no doubt hoping Balaban would be inspired by a return to his homeland and a chance to face Zagreb?s old rivals.

That policy backfired and Gregory was forced into a half-time switch that may cause him sleepless nights. Angel came on for the second half and Dublin with 30 minutes remaining and it led to Villa spending the vast majority of their time in Vartek?s half.

If last week?s showing at Villa Park had angered Gregory, the opening 45 minutes simply frustrated him.

He was constantly out of the dugout, throwing his hands in the air, as sloppiness in defence almost led to Villa losing any hope they had of winning the tie in the early stages.

Three times they could have fallen behind ? and they would have had no-one but themselves to blame.

Veldin Karic almost struck in the 12th minute, charging past Alpay before taking on Peter Schmeichel only for the angle to run out on him. Three minutes later, Alpay?s misplaced pass to Lee Hendrie was seized upon by Miljenko Mumlek and his ambitious 50-yard shot had the power but not the direction to beat Schmeichel.

Another defensive mistake should have been punished but Sasa Bjelanovic was inches away from converting Devis Mukaj?s cross after he had intercepted an unnecessarily hurried clearance from the Villa goalkeeper. Villa did get the ball in the net but Hendrie?s effort was ruled out for offside 10 minutes before the interval and Gregory?s problems increased on the stroke of half-time when Sweden defender Olof Mellberg was taken off on a stretcher with a twisted ankle. After the changes, Villa piled forward but had little to show by way of goal-bound efforts apart from Ginola?s 30-yard volley that was comfortably held by Danijel Madaric.

Villa?s methods became increasingly primitive but with five minutes of time added on, they still had a glimmer of hope ? especially when Hadji scored his second goal in 72 hours with a beautiful, curling right-foot shot. Given the dominance Villa enjoyed as the match wore on, plenty of fans will no doubt be questioning Gregory?s rotation policy.

The manager remained defiant, adding: ?It had to be an attacking side. People never question you when things are going right but if the result doesn?t go your way, then you get questioned.

?I did it in the full knowledge that I had Juan Pablo and Dion on the bench. It wasn?t a selection I took lightly.?