Ace McGrath burns at both ends for Villa

Paul McGrath was burning at both ends as Dwight Yorke bathed Villa Park in Caribbean sunshine yesterday.

McGrath went from hero to villain as he got the final touch to goals for both sides within four minutes midway through the first half.

But it was Yorke who stunned Spurs with a sparkling solo goal to keep Villa in the pack pursuing Newcastle for the Premiership title.

Yorke, back at Villa after a stint of international duty with his native Trinidad and Tobago, struck 11 minutes from the end of a lively contest, with a goal to send a warm tingle down the spine on a freezing afternoon.

Villa went ahead when Yorke’s acrobatic overhead shot bounced off Stuart Nethercott and veteran Irish international McGrath measured his follow up to find the target.

Spurs' response was immediate and ferocious. Villa full-back Alan Wright scooped away Nethercott's header following a corner but only as far as Ruel Fox, whose 18-yard low drive hit McGrath on an ankle and ricocheted into one side of the net with keeper Mark Bosnich diving in the opposite direction.

For the third time in recent weeks, Spurs had the opportunity to move up to second place in the Premiership and, with Chris Armstrong and Teddy Sheringham for once firing blanks, once again they blew it. Sheringham's volley just before Yorke's goal was Tottenham's first serious threat after the internal. yet, instead of being a sign that the balance was shifting, it was their last gesture of defiance.

Yorke promptly twisted past Justin Edinburgh to fire a shot across Walker and inside the post and Villa had the three points within reach. “Things are going right for me at the moment, the gaffer has given me the confidence.” said Yorke.