`GOOD LUCK Villa from the City of Manchester' read a banner unfurled by visiting supporters at Villa Park yesterday.

But any suggestions that Peter Reid's team would lie down to assist Manchester United's Premier League championship rivals were seriously misplaced.

At the halfway stage of a tense encounter, the gripping title race looked set to end prematurely.

Aston Villa, starting the day four points adrift, were trailing an inspired City team through a stunning Niall Quinn header and did not look capable of restoring the gap at the top of the table to a single point.

Dean Saunders, the Villa striker who, within three minutes of the restart had ended his personal goal famine after 1,095 minutes, revealed afterwards that manager Ron Atkinson had "crucified" the team in the dressing room.

That justifiable verbal assault had the desired effect as Villa raised their game and a worried home crowd were transformed into a joyful throng by the time Ray Houghton completed their recovery with a superbly taken third goal a minute from the end.

Delighted Villa boss Atkinson quipped afterwards: "We are nuisances aren't we?

"After we drew at home to Coventry last week everybody was saying that was it then we went and won at Arsenal.

"After United beat Chelsea they were saying the same again. but we keep clinging on in there.

"We showed great character and great commitment. We kept on battling and straining every last sinew."