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BATTERED VILLA LEFT ON ROPES

IT'S the sort of week you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Shearer and Sutton, followed by Bergkamp and Sosa and then Cole and Kitson.

Villa's defenders could well be feeling punch-drunk by next Saturday night.

The prospect of facing the striking heavyweights of Inter Milan and Newcastle in the space of 48 hours is daunting to say the least.

But Villa must do it as they bounce off the ropes from a first round mauling at the hands of Blackburn's deadly duo.

Ron Atkinson's will need to keep their guard up better than they did against Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, or this time next week we will be contemplating a Euro exit and a position in the bottom half of the Premiership.

Big Ron's description of this eight-day period as a "monster week" could hardly have been more apt.

The monster, sadly, looks likely to come out on top unless Villa display more rigid resistance against Inter and Newcastle.

Even the ploy of operating a three-man central defence failed to quell the Shearer-Sutton threat at Ewood Park.

Not surprisingly, the tactic was abandoned after £5 million man Sutton had stabbed home a park pitch goal to give Blackburn a 2-0 lead on 58 minutes.

Shaun Teale was the player sacrificed, although the transfer-seeking defender was by no means the weakest link in Villa's back line.

Even before Rovers made their breakthrough on 17 minutes, Teale had rescued embarrassing situations for Paul McGrath and the out-of-touch Steve Staunton.

Staunton was, admittedly, desperately unlucky with a fierce free-kick which Tim Flowers tipped away, but it was only after the five-man defensive plan had been scrapped that Villa carried any real menace.

Andy Townsend, Villa's most impressive player on a day of mediocrity, also tested Flowers with a stinging drive before Ehiogu claimed his first senior goal for the the club in the final minute.

If it was tough going at the back, there was little cheer in other departments, either. Townsend's industry was admirable but not quite sufficient to get the midfield functioning to full effect. But for the most part, Dean Saunders found himself chasing a lost cause up front.

The Welsh Wizard badly needs assistance, either from John Fashanu's muscle or Dalian Atkinson's darting runs, if he is to unlock Inter's defensive fortress and pave the way for UEFA Cup progress.