Scottish striker Andy Gray was convinced, as he walked painfully away from Maine Road, that Aston Villa should have had the point they deserved.

Gray, his badly bruised left shoulder strapped. claimed the injury was caused when he wass knocked out of the way as City scored their winning goal in a 2-1 victory with just four minutes left.

“I was bundled over by two or three of them and I thought we should have had a free kick,” Grey complained.

His captain lan Ross’ superb sweeping behind a defence that kept the home team out for 80 minutes added: “If it had happened at the other end there would have been a free kick.”

But all Villa had to show for this stern defence and often brilliant approach work was Gray’s goal and the knowledge that they had not let down manager, Ron Saunders, on his return to the club he managed for just three months.

Gray in particular was outstanding and not far behind him was Frank Carrodus, bought by Saunders from City.

Gray said: “I’m terribly disappointed because I thought I had my best game since joining Villa.

“That was what I was playing like last season with Dundee United. I’ve been feeling a bit low lately and for the last few weeks I’ve not been playing well. But today, after that sixth minute goal, all my enthusiasm came flooding back.“

Besides making City’s England centre half Dave Watson look ordinary and scoring, Gray created a chance for Ray Graydon after 28 minutes that the winger wasted and forced Joe Corrigan to make a superb second half save.

So Villa should have been at least 2-0 up before Tommy Booth, City’s substitute, equalised in the 80th minute.

That goal was created by Asa Hartford and then the former West Bromwich Albion player scored the winner.

But there is no doubt that if Villa had been able to field a full strength side they would have won.

It is no disgrace to 19-year-old John Overton to say that he found Joe Royle difficult to contain and that Villa missed Chris Nicholl’s strength and experience.

As it was, Saunders can be proud of Saturday’s young team - their organisation made City look a collection of highly talented players not properly put together.