1-1

NEW boss Brian Little slammed Aston Villa last night following an alarming fade-off which leaves them even more firmly fixed in the Premiership bottom four.

Villa seemed on the way to a Sunday stroll when Dalian Atkinson blasted them in front against injury-ravaged Wednesday.

But then Little discovered exactly why Ron Atkinson got the sack as the wheels fell off following Peter Atherton's spectacular 57th-minute equaliser for Wednesday.

Little, who’s controversial walk out on Leicester City could wind up in a High Court confrontation tomorrow, confessed: “Quite honestly, I was happy with one point in the end.

“We went backwards and lacked self belief and our confidence seemed to ebb away throughout the entire set up. We lost our way and looked very nervous. I’ve learned a lot.”

Little, 41, recruited by Villa chairman Doug Ellis on £200,000 a year until 1997 added menacingly: ”I’m here to make hard decisions.

“I’ll do whatever it take to win games, and it won’t worry me one little but.

“I’d give the players nine out of ten in the first half but they deserved only five in the second.”

Leicester's board meet this morning to decide their next step in a determined bid to wrest massive compensation off Villa for losing Little's services.

Little added: "I hope the Leicester business can be resolved quickly and, preferably, in private. I'm at Villa to stay."

Little’s headaches were evaporating fast when striker Atkinson scored from close range, after Wednesday keeper Kevin Pressman pushed out a Dean Saunders header.

Pressman stopped Graham Fenton doubling Villa's lead on the half hour, diving to touch the youngster's volley on to a post. That was when it began going badly wrong for Villa, even though Dan Petrescu let them off the hook by lifting his shot over an empty net in the 48th minute.

There was no escape nine minutes later. Mark Bosnich's poor kick found Atherton 30 yards out, and the £800,000 right back released a dipping volley which clipped the bar as it sailed over the flailing keeper.

Chris Bart-Williams wasted the chance of a 84th minute winner following Ugo Ehiogu's blunder, and Wednesday substitute lan Taylor was just inches from turning in Andy Sinton's low cross.

Villa have only one victory to show from eight home Premiership fixtures, and Wednesday boss Trevor Francis commented: "We thought we were well worth all three points.

"Once the Brian Little factor wore off, Villa couldn't possibly maintain the same rhythm and tempo."