LIKE many a word spoken in jest, the remark had a distinctive ring of truth about it. Kevin Richardson, conducting a post-match radio interview, pleaded: "If anyone listening can score goals, they should come and join Villa!"

It was a typical piece of dry humour from Villa's skipper, yet there was undeniably an underlying concern. You can't just pluck goalscorers out of thin air, of course, but Villa desperately need to start hitting the target or their season will fade into a dreadful anti-climax.

The wonder of Wembley will sustain supporters for a little while, of course, and with European football already assured, the necessity for a lofty league position has been removed.

The blunt fact, though, is that Ron Atkinson's men have now failed to win in six Premiership fixtures either side of the Coca-Cola League Cup final, managing just a single goal an own goal during that dismal run.

Against Norwich yesterday, there was little question that they should have broken the sequence, for there was very little wrong with their approach work in difficult windy conditions. keepers like Bryan Gunn are rarely beaten from such distances.

At least, there were also a few chances around the six yard box, with Gunn clutching Fenton's lunging header, Dean Saunders' flick being blocked by an lan Culverhouse tackle and substitute Dwight Yorke firing over from Tony Daley's deep cross.

Manager Atkinson has intimated he will be giving his younger players a few outings during the final games, and Yorke certainly looks worthy of a run after a season sabotaged by injury problems.

Taking over from calf injury victim Fenton at half time, the Calypso kid produced some sparkling runes from midfield and was always on the lookout for a shooting opportunity.

If the match provided reasonable Bank Holiday entertainment, though, it was never in the same class as Villa's 2-1 win at Carrow Road at the end of last year.

That night, both sides looked good enough for Europe, and Villa, of course, have already booked their UEFA Cup place. But both sides have somehow lost the zest they produced on that occasion, and the Canaries have won only once in 14 league matches since John Deehan took over as manager.

For most of yesterday's contest, they were content to sit back and let Villa take the game to them although a couple of breaks might just have left Atkinson staring at another defeat.

Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich had to be at his best as £2 million-rated Chris Sutton ghosted through for a low 23rd minute drive. But even the agile Aussie was a mere spectator as Sutton's 86th minute shot crashed against his right-hand post.

There would have been no radio wisecracks if that one had gone in.