Aston Villa kept up their drive for promotion at Millwall last night, recording a hard-earned first League victory in London for three seasons.

Two second-half goals from Keith Leonard and Brian Little destroyed the challenge of relegation-threatened Millwall to give Villa a rather flattering win.

They were clearly the better side, but for long periods they displayed promotion jitters as their opponents ran and fought for every ball.

Their victory could not have come at a more opportune time, however, for Blackpool and Bristol City, two of their rivals in a fiercely fought race for the First Division, drew their matches last night.

Leonard, who has been in devastating form this year, ended Villa’s worries in the 77th minute when he steered a right-wing corner from substitute Bobby McDonald into the net at the near post.

It was his tenth goal of the season and his teammates mobbed him as he ran back to the centre circle with his arms outstretched.

Little later confirmed Villa’s supremacy when he cleverly ran on to a through pass from Chico Hamilton with one minute to go and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Bryan King’s head.

Villa had been shaken out of their stride in the 15th minute when Millwall, who are third from bottom in the Second Division took a shock lead.

Frank Carrodus was adjudged to have fouled Doug Allder just outside the penalty area and from the free kick, which Allder took, Dennis Burnett emerged unmarked to head them in front.

The goal was against the run of play for the Football League leading scorer, Ray Graydon, turned creator to carve two openings for Leonard and another for Little which were squandered in the opening ten minutes.

Villa lost a lot of their composure and control after this goal as Millwall attempted to sneak another goal.

But in the 44th minute Villa were awarded a penalty when centre half Barry Kitchener handled the ball as Little attempted to connect with a centre from Hamilton.

King saved Hamilton’s first spot kick but referee Alex Lees from Bridgwater ordered the kick to be taken again, ruling that the goalkeeper had moved.

King made a vehement protest and had his name taken before Hamilton pushed his second kick to the right of the goalkeeper’s diving body.

Villa began to show more of their recent form after the restart but they found it hard going against a packed Millwall defence.

Graydon had to be substituted in the 73rd minute with a thigh injury and McDonald came on in his place and with his first kick supplied Leonard’s goal.

After that there was only one team in the contest.

Afterwards Ron Saunders, Villa’s manager, said: “We didn’t play well, but I was tremendously impressed with the way the team fought after giving away a rather silly goal.

“We were clearly the better side in the second half. The injury to Graydon upset us but I am hoping that it is not too serious.”