PAUL McGRATH'S return to Premiership action was dealt the Tiss of death at The Dell last night.

Matthew Le Tissier, hailed as a god by Southampton fans, left Villa in despair with a brilliant injury-time free-kick winner at The Dell.

And this can only mean bad news for McGrath as he continues his bid to claim a place under new Villa boss Brian Little.

Le Tissier swung his 25-yard drive over a five-man defensive wall and even though Nigel Spink got his hands to the ball, he could not deny Le Tissier a 15th goal of the season.

It was Le Tissier's 30th goal out of the 61 the Saints have accumulated since Alan Ball became manager and another priceless contribution towards keeping the south-coast club in the Premiership.

It was only their second win in 10 League games and gives them vital festive breathing space.

Villa, in contrast, are as deep in trouble as when they parted company with Ron Atkinson, their only win in the last 14 games coming under caretaker Jim Barron.

Little had turned to the unlikely figure of John Fashanu in search of inspiration. But the £1.35m former Wimbledon cult hero, playing his first game since September 17 after an Achilles operation created more mayhem than chances.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Ray Houghton thought he had rescued a fourth consecutive Premiership point for the new boss, finally puncturing the resistance of former Liverpool teammate Bruce Grobbelaar in the 79th minute with a superb goal.

Shaun Teale launched a long pass precisely into the Irish veteran's path as he cut through on the left.

Houghton's touch was immaculate, and Grobbelaar, who had again confounded the match-rigging allegations against him with superb saves, had no chance as the Irishman's right foot drilled the equaliser past his right hand from 10 yards.

It was nothing more than Villa deserved from a scrappy match which produced seven bookings.

Villa grafted but struggled to create a better chance than Bryan Small's 30th-minute cross which squeezed between Grobbelaar and Fashanu on the near post and trickled along the line until Hall booted it clear.

When they got a clear shot on goal, Grobbelaar was there. tipping over Fashanu's 48th-minute shot on the turn and then turning aside Houghton's 56th-minute effort.