GORDON Cowans inspired Aston Villa's march into the second round of the UEFA Cup setting up both the goals which gave them a 5-2 aggregate win over Banik Ostrava in Czechoslovakia.

The 32-year-old midfielder, one of only two survivors from the Midlanders' European Cup triumph eight years ago. pulled Villa back from the brink of disaster after Radim Necas had trimmed their 3-1 first leg lead with a superb free kick just before the break.

But new manager Josef Venglos' worries that his return to his native country would be bitter-sweet were quickly removed in the second half.

First Cowans supplied a perfect near post corner from the right in the 51st minute and Kent Nielsen angled his flick across goal for his defensive partner Derek Mountfield to bundle in his second goal of the tie from close range.

Then, seven minutes later. Cowans' sweet left foot inflicted the decisive damage to Banik's hopes, curling in another teasing free kick from the left.

Sweeper Ivo Stas stretched but succeeded only in looping the ball off his head into the far top corner to make it 2-1 on the night.