Villa's manager Ron Atkinson was left to reflect on his team's poor finishing after they had surrendered the Premier League leadership to Manchester United following this scoreless draw with Coventry City.

Villa dominated against their Midland rivals, but they failed to turn their possession into goals, much to Atkinson's frustration.

He said: "It was disappointing to hear that United had scored two late goals to win their match, but you have got to give full credit to them.”

Villa should have wrapped up a comfortable success inside the opening 15 minutes if their finishing had been sharper.

Dean Saunders saw his first minute shot palmed away by the Coventry goalkeeper Jonathan Gould before Dalian Atkinson fired the rebound wide from just six yards.

Atkinson, only recently back in the side following stomach surgery, was at fault again 15 minutes later when he blasted the ball over the bar from the edge of the area after being set up by Ray Houghton.

As they battered in vain at a resilient Coventry. the fans began to celebrate the news that Sheffield Wednesday had taken the lead against rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Suddenly, from a frustrating afternoon. there was the prospect of relief and an increased lead at the top of the table.

Ron Atkinson's men seemed to take their foot off the accelerator but, by the end, United's fightback had cost them dear and left them a point adrift with five games left to play.

It could have been very different if the manager's namesake, Dalian, had proved sharper on his first home outing for more than four months.

A year ago, Cyrille Regis gave Villa a flying start to this fixture with a goal after 22 seconds.

Only six seconds more had elapsed when his successor had a chance to emulate him. But when Dean Saunders' 20-yard shot was parried back into Atkinson's path by Coventry goalkeeper Jonathan Gould.

The way creative Villa were playing, they could not have realised just how costly that miss would prove to be.

Villa's next real chance came from a corner by Steve Staunton. which beat Gould but was headed out from beneath the bar by captain Brian Borrows.

Dwight Yorke, Atkinson. Staunton and Paul McGrath all failed to hit the target.

And it was not until just before the end when Saunders. turning on the edge of the area to chip his shot just beyond the far angle. that they threatened to achieve the victory that would have kept them in pole position.

Afterwards, Ron Atkinson showed that the title strain is getting to him. The Villa boss sparked an angry exchange with a journalist when asked what disappointed him most about the performance”

"We didn't score, and it's inane questions like that that particularly irritate me." he snapped.

After a lively and heated exchange between the pair. Atkinson expounded:

"We had enough chances but we didn't score and it's as simple as that.

"We've run the game from start to finish.

“They've defended very staunchly, it's a local derby and they had pride to play for.

But we should have won."