ENGLISH club football was given a major boost by Aston Villa's magnificent victory against UEFA Cupholders Inter Milan at Villa Park last night.

Ron Atkinson said after the club's first round penalty shoot-out victory: "Make no mistake about it, this was a great result for Aston Villa and a great result for English football."

While Newcastle, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were successful in European competition this week, Villa's achievement was special for a host of reasons.

Atkinson's team were close to matching Inter, one of Europe's supreme aristocrats, in technical skill as well as in wholehearted effort.

Down 0-1 after the first leg in Milan, Ray Houghton's 42nd minute half-volley was the only goal until the 4-3 penalty shoot-out, won with a Phil King shot.

Inter coach Ottavio Bianchi acknowledged Villa's performance when he commented: "That match should have been the semi-final, such was the quality of the teams.

"The top teams in Italy, Spain, Germany and England all stand out - these were two strong, well-matched teams.

The goal-attempt statistics over 120 minutes are revealing. Villa made 24 of which 13 were on target, Inter 11 of which five were accurate.

Furthermore, the hold which the home side's midfield maintained for all but the first period of extra time was emphasised by the fact that Steve Staunton had no fewer than nine shots at goal, three bringing acrobatic saves from the outstanding (self confessed Villa fan) Gianluca Pagliuca, while Ray Houghton scored the only goal, struck a post and had three more shots.

Atkinson said later he wanted to remind the Italians of "the Irish thing," a spot of psychological warfare that required the use of four of the men who helped to defeat the eventual World Cup finalists in their group match.

Pagliuca must have relived the Orlando experience again when Houghton scored Villa's 42nd minute goal and his first since the match in June with a neatly clipped half-volley to level the aggregate scores.

If the Inter goalkeeper thought coincidence had gone too far, it was to tease him further with another lost shoot-out, less momentous no doubt than that which cost his country defeat by Brazil.

Penalties went with kicker to 3-3: Bia-Parker 1-1; Bergkamp-Staunton 2-2; Seno-Townsend 3-3.

Then Fontolan swung the ball high over the bar, only for a chasmic groan to follow Pagliuca's excellent, if illegally early, save from Whittingham.

Sosa, booked after 88 minutes for acting a fall, had been the crowd's target for nearly two hours. He stepped forward with a display of disdain but shook the crossbar rather than the net, leaving King to ace him.

"King was cracking jokes as he walked up to take it," said Atkinson. "He thought we were playing Wigan because they were in blue and black stripes."

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DWIGHT Yorke watched Vllla's triumph from the sidelines keeping his fingers crossed that his big Euro chance will come along in round two. The Tobago-born striker admitted he was bitterly disappointed to be left out under UEFA's limit of three foreigners a team.

Despite Yorke's impressive Premiership displays In recent weeks, Villa decided to go for the experience of Dean Saunders, Paul McGrath and Steve Staunton, Just as they did in the first leg. "I'm delighted we are through, but I Just hope I get a chance in the next round.” said Yorke, who is equally happy in a midfield role.

"I feel I have done well enough in the last few games to have a chance, and I was hurt when I wasn't Included.

“All week I have either been reading or hearing that I might be in the side, but when it came to the crunch, I missed out again."

While Yorke sat in the stand, transfer-seeking Garry Parker got Involved in the action as a substitute for the injured Kevin Richardson during extra-time and scored Villa's first penalty. The former Forest player still wants to get away, although manager Ron Atkinson has said he will not let him go while Villa remain in Europe.

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THE whole nation was on its tiptoes late last night in tribute to one of the great European dramas starring magnificent, dauntless Villa.

Phil King, fair-haired joker in the Villa pack, was the man who dispatched the UEFA Cup holders from the competition, cool as Bob Hope at a royal command performance.

And how aptly named the left-back is.

Villa were kings on a night that rivalled any in their European history in excitement if not importance.

Penalty kicks may be no way to decide a seriously competitive match but last night's at least had the merit of justice, and provided a bewitching finale into the bargain.

Manager Ron Atkinson summed up:

"This was not just a great result for Aston Villa, it was a great result for England.

“I cannot remember enjoying a result so much in all my career."

Villa fans can - as recently as last season against Manchester United at Wembley - but it was easy to see what he meant.