JIM LEIGHTON, Manchester United's Scottish international goalkeeper, emerged as the Old Trafford club's hero at Aston Villa, a brilliant late save from Alan Mclnally preventing the home side snatching a late winner.

It was the highlight of a keen cut-and-thrust encounter in which the lack of goals was the only disappointment.

Following some indifferent displays recently Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor again turned to one of his Watford old boys, Steve Sims, to bring more stability to the Midlanders' defence.

Playing in only his second League game of the season Sims effectively shut out United strikers and made a major contribution to Villa's improved form.

Villa were also forced to draft in goalkeeper Lee Butler for only his second game.

United, now beaten only once in their last 12 games, struggled in attack for long spells. Despite some skilful and industrious work by Gordon Strachan, strikers Brian McClair and Mark Hughes were ineffective against the rugged play of Sims and Martin Keown.

It was not until the final 20 minutes that United were able to turn on the pressure to trouble the home side.

lan Ormondroyd, a £650,000 Villa buy from Bradford City, is noticeably struggling to adjust to life in the First Division, and he was substituted by lan Olney after 70 minutes.