For Paul McGrath the next four weeks will be painful, cruel and hopefully optimistic. He must now convince Aston Villa's boss Ron Atkinson that his 45 minutes of pain yesterday can disappear in time to allow him join the Republic's World Cup crusade. A shoulder injury that almost kept him out of the Coca Cola Cup final against Manchester United saw him make a return in agony against Southampton yesterday. And it was plain for all to see that this was indeed hell at the Dell for at the Dell for McGrath as his left arm traipsed after him like a stray dog in that first half of pain and frustration.

The pain came from the injury that curtailed his movement, curtailed his running, curtailed his ability to head the ball.

The frustration came when the likes of Jeff Kenna and lain Dowie left him trailing for pace. This was not the Paul McGrath we all know and love. Instead he was a mere shadow of his former self, a fact not lost on Villa boss Ron Atkinson who admitted. 'Paul was struggling with the injury. that's why he went off at half-time.

"He went missing again at the interval, this time with club permission. He just didn't do himself justice out there and he was frustrated".

McGRATH was told to say nothing after the match but his face told its own story. He knew he shouldn't have played yesterday. He now knows the four weeks before World Cup departure will be long and worrying.

At least he has this one appearance under his belt to remind Ron Atkinson just how much work is needed to sort this injury out.

Villa could have done with a fully fit McGrath yesterday as Southampton got themselves three precious points in their battle against relegation. Once more it was the magical qualities of Matthew Le Tinier who got them out of trouble.

Alan Ball revealed afterwards that he calls his star man a "genius". It was easy to see why. Le Tissier scored two, could have had a hat-trick and was involved in everything that was good about Southampton as they moved to within one win of safety.

He scored the first when Kenna skipped past Steve Staunton and McGrath as if they didn't exist. His subsequent cross was volleyed home with aplomb by Le Tissier.

Le Tissier's second as good as sealed the issue after 76 minutes at a time when Villa were starting to look dangerous.

Ron Atkinson's men had conceded a second in the 38th minute when Monkou headed home a Le Tissier corner.

DEAN SAUNDERS dragged this depleted Villa side back into the game when he finished a cross from Beinlich in the 37th minute.

However, it was all to no avail when Le Tissier finished with the consummate ease of a natural goal scorer once more from Benali's lob in the 76th minute.

That was the game over.

The fireworks followed sixty seconds later when Villa 'keeper Nigel Spink was dismissed for his challenge on lain Dowie outside the box. Villa protested the decision but the red card was automatic. And their fate was sealed four minutes from time when Neil Maddison headed home another corner from that man Le Tissier.

The Villa fans did themselves no favours at the end of the match when they smashed a crossbar after invading the pitch.