QUIET man Paul McGrath had the last laugh in his war of words with Alex Ferguson last night.

But the classy centre back also enjoyed the luck of the Irish as a Dean Saunders goal gave Aston Villa a 1-0 victory against Manchester United in this Coca-Cola Cup tie.

For one breathtaking moment late in the game it looked as if McGrath had gifted United a goal when he deflected a Ryan Giggs cross . . . but his header came back off the upright and then Nigel Spink brilliantly saved a Mark Hughes shot from the rebound.

"I had intended to turn the ball away for a corner but I had a call in mid-air and I changed my mind." admitted a relieved McGrath afterwards.

"Fortunately. Nigel saved my blushes."

The 'keeper recalled: "I looked at Mark Hughes and he was just going to blatter it. He must have thought that was it, that he'd got the equaliser. I didn't have time to react, I just made myself as big as I could.

"It hit me in the nether regions and I'm feeling very sore. But it's worth it. We had a bit of luck."

A late United equaliser would have been especially painful for McGrath.

Angry words have flashed between Manchester and Birmingham in the wake of his departure from Old Trafford.

Indeed, the Irishman is pursuing a libel action against Ferguson for remarks about him in the Old Trafford manager's autobiography.

Inevitabl , last night's game was billed as a grudge match between the two but McGrath calmly sidestepped the controversy.

"I always get a buzz playing against United and this game is no exception. I was just relieved Nigel Spink was in such good form." he said with typical restraint.

Ron Atkinson pinned his colours to the mast. "Paul will be ranked as one of the best centre halves ever to have played for Manchester United. And judging by his performances for us, he's one of the best to have played for Villa as well."

Atkinson, who had signed McGrath for United from St Pat's, added: "I thought he provided a perfect answer to recent comments made about him with a mature and top flight display.

"United may feel aggrieved that they are not in the fourth round but we would have been similarly disappointed had we not won." added Atkinson.

Saunders pounced more than 15 minutes from time for the most valuable of his seven goals in nine games since his £2.3m move from Anfield.

Fatally, United left him loosely marked at the far post for Kevin Richardson's corner and neither Clayton Blackmore nor Paul Ince could stop him heading home.

It was only United's second defeat in the competition in 20 matches. The only other time Ferguson has been upstaged was in the 1991 final by Sheffield Wednesday when Atkinson was their manager.

In fact. apart from an exit on the away goal rule, the Villa manager has not seen a side of his beaten in open play in this competition since 1989.