Super Scot Andy Gray scored a golden goal here today.

But it was not enough to give non-stop Villa a win they richly deserved.

Gray pounced in the 21st minute to earn £1,000 for charity from the match sponsor. But Villa’s joy was short-lived when former centre half Chris Nicholl poppied win an equaliser in injury time of the first half.

But Villa could only dance themselves to blame for some finishing which sometimes was simply and other times unlucky.

Villa were unchanged from the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday in mid week and Chris Nicholl, a former Villa favourite, returned as Southampton centre half.

There was a booking in only the second minute when Curran handled in a s Southampton raid and was shown the yellow card for kicking the ball away.

The Saints strung together two impressive moves. Peach found MacDougall running into the box and Villa cleared at the expense of a corner and then Ball and Curran combined to find the overlapping Golac on the right. But Carrodus was back to prevent the centre coming over.

It took Villa time to settle but, when they did, they put Southampton under severe pressure.

Gray robbed Golac in midfield and fed Mortimer. The former City star pushed the ball to Little but Waldron just got his toe to the ball averting the danger.

Then Shelton half hit a shot from the edge of the box and Nicholl screwed the ball over his own bar with Wells stranded.

Wells was in action again to cut out a third successive Villa corner but, after 21 minutes, Villa took the lead,

Mortimer’s free kick found McNaught who rose superbly to head against a post and with everyone watching the rebound, GRAY unleashed and unstoppable right foot shot from eight yards.

Shortly afterwards, Andruszeski limped off and was replace by Hebberd.

Villa dominated and almost had a second goal after 27 minutes. Gidman, after another exciting run, cut in to hammer a superb left foot shot which Wells beat down. Shelton could only push the rebound over the bar.

Just before the interval, Mortimer, Villa’s best player, ran into space in the penalty area but directed a header over.

Southampton produced a spell of pressure and Ball crossed from the right for Nicholl to head past the diving Rimmer.

Half time: Aston Villa 1, Southampton 1

Ball caught Villa napping with a quickly taken free kick but Rimmer dived at the feet of Williams.

Six minutes later, Southampton had an amazing escape. Little was held on the right and when Gidman floated over the kick, Evans headed ball back and Little, unmarked six yards out, headed over.

Loud appeals for a penalty when Nicholl appeared to pull down Gray were waved aside.

Despite Villa’s superiority, Southampton came back in flashes and Ball split the defence with a pass to Hebberd, who screwed a shot just wide.