McGrath puts Villa back on top in chase for title

PAUL McGrath crowned the greatest seven days of his life with the goal at Nottingham Forest which restored Aston Villa to the top of English football.

The gentle Irish giant followed up his PFA Player of the Year award with a World Cup win in Dublin. and then put Ron Atkinson's men two points dear in the Premier League with six games to go.

"I'll be getting big-headed if this carries on.” joked McGrath afterwards.

"It's been the best week; in football I've ever had.”

The only blow for Villa is that influential defender Shaun Teale was booked for a body-check which earns him an automatic suspension and will probably rule him out of the home game against Manchester City.

Villa go into the run-in backed by Forest boss Brian Clough, who said:

"When all is sorted out in May, it would not do the game any harm at all if Ron lifted the crown. Ron goes out as much to entertain as he does to win and anyone who insists on that gets a house point or two.”