Brian Little kept Aston Villa on the First Division promotion path at Villa Park last night with two superb second half goals to increase Cardiff’s relegation fears.

Little, who has emerged this season as a striker of lethal ability, came to Villa’s aid just when it seemed they would never crack Cardiff’s resolute defence.

His two goals, which took his tally this season. for the campaign to 17, helped Villa to jump back into third spot in the Second Division promotion race above Norwich City.

Little so nearly crowned his masterful display by grabbing a hat-trick with four minutes remaining. But his first-time shot from a cross by Keith Leonard struck the crossbar with goalkeeper Bill Irwin completely beaten and bounced away for Cardiff to clear.

The crowd of 32,748 rose to Little at the end in warm recognition of his non-stop efforts throughout a gripping contest. His first goal, in the 65th minute, came as a tremendous relief to the large crowd and it broke Cardiff’s brave resistance. Chico Hamilton took a corner on the his right and Chris Nicholl jumped superbly to head the ball. Little sneaked behind the defence and nodded the ball past Irwin.

Eleven minutes later the 20-year-old striker scored a brilliant goal after possibly the best move seen on the ground this season.

Leighton Phillips, a £90,000 transfer buy from Cardiff earlier this season, inspired the move with a through-ball to Hamilton on the left.

Hamilton crossed into the penalty area and Little dived forward to head the ball into the corner of the net. It almost brought the house down.

Villa, who had displayed quite a lot of nervous tension in the earlier stages, were good value for their victory.

They had an early shock in the eighth minute when leading goalscorer Ray Graydon had to go off with a hamstring injury. It clearly unsettled the whole side and they took time to get back into their stride.

Substitute Bobby McDonald had to play on the left wing, obviously not to his liking. He was seldom in the game in the first half and it came as no surprise the when he reverted to his more familiar midfield role after the interval.

Cardiff, who are in dire danger of dropping into the Third Division, were handicapped when centre half Richie Morgan had to leave the field after 18 minutes, also with a hamstring injury, he was replaced by John Impey.

Villa had made all the early running, with Hamilton heading over the bar from a right-wing cross by Carrodus after two minutes, and Little headed straight into Irwin’s arms three minutes later.

Little and Hamilton were the most effective forwards and the latter was desperately unlucky not to have scored in the 24th minute when Irwin tipped his fierce left-foot drive from 20-yards the end away for a corner.