Brilliant Staunton saves Villa blushes PETERBOROUGH 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Aston Villa 7-1 on agg) BRILLIANT

Steve Staunton spared Aston Villa's blushes and gave the Republic of Ireland a boost as well, after they trailed for a long spell against plucky second division Peterborough.

Although trailing by a staggering six goals from the first leg, Posh rocked their Premiership opponents by taking a 39th-minute lead.

Leading scorer Gary Martindale grabbed the goal when he rounded Mark Bosnich and took his chance in style following a Villa defensive mix-up.

After Staunton's arrival in place of Yorke on the hour, Villa began to look far more purposeful. And it was no surprise when, with three minutes left, Staunton fired home a fierce left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Staunton who returned to senior action for the first time last weekend after a foot operation looked particularly good and earlier provided a cross that ended with lan Taylor bringing a fine one-handed save from Sheffield before the ball was cleared.

Villa tended to treat the game almost as a training stroll and squandered a succession of first-half chances with international Savo Milosevic guilty on three occasions when presented with fine openings.