DEAN SAUNDERS will wake up this morning and wonder why Aston Villa are not two points clear at the top of the Premier League and his name in lights.

Saunders ran Tottenham ragged, yet somehow the FA Cup semi-finalists survived, leaving Villa Park's third-biggest crowd of the season feeling frustrated.

For a 20-minute period just before and after halftime, Saunders was unstoppable and twice hit a post, saw a lob cleared off the line by Justin Edinburgh, then watched as Tottenham goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt turned another goal-bound effort around the post.

So Villa had to be content with a goalless draw that leaves them level on points with leaders Manchester United to set up the prospect of a momentous encounter at Old Trafford live on satellite television on Sunday.

But Villa and their 37,727 fans, and there were 1,000 locked out, will feel a sense of injustice that they do not go north two points clear at the top.

The drama started as early as the 14th minute as Villa, looking for an eighth successive home win, pushed forward. Midfielder Garry Parker slipped a superb ball through to the speeding Dwight Yorke, who then went flying in the area from a challenge from Tottenham captain Neil Ruddock.

But although it looked a penalty. Sheffield referee Keith Hackett simply waved play on to leave Villa Park stunned.

Four minutes later Yorke glanced a header, which Thorstvedt just managed to fumble around the post, before the game was plunged into more controversy.

Tottenham rarely threatened and did not manage a single shot on goal throughout, but defended defiantly. if at times desperately. And even the presence of fit-again Tony Daley, making his first appearance since August 25 because of ruptured knee ligaments, could not inspire the home side.

So Villa's third successive crowd of more than 30.000 trooped off feeling dejected with all eyes now on Old Trafford on Sunday as the championship chase reaches a crescendo.