Brave Villa weather storm in Bordeaux

ASTON VILLA handed themselses a vital UEFA Cup lifeline after weathering an expected Bordeaux blitz on a night when Stan Collymore went AWOL.

The £7million striker was a subdued figure last night during the first round first leg tie at the Parc Lescaric stadium as he suffered a dose of the Euro-wobbles.

Trinidad and Tobago international Dwight Yorke virtually played on his own up front with Collymore looking disinterested and disillusioned as Bordeaux rained shots on the Villa goal.

It was not until the 56th-minute introduction of. Yugoslav international Sass Curcic, the subject of a long-running public feud with Villa boss Brian Little, that Collymore finally showed signs of life.

Curcic suddenly gave under-fire Villa fresh impetus after former French international skipper Jeann-Pierre Papin had created a catalogue of chances which came close to flooring Little's dream.

Villa appeared to be suffering a Helsingborgs hangover after an embarrassing away-goals rule exit at the hands of the Swedes last season. Guy Stephan's Bordeaux were on the attack from early as the third minute.

Republic of Ireland international Steve Stauntoii poor clearance struck veteran striker Papin and he fed fellow' forward Lilian l.aslandes, whose 20-yard right foot shot was marginally wide.

But, for Villa, apart from an lan Taylor drive into the body of Rame, they could not carve out any clear chances and settled for a goalless draw, pinning their hopes on the return at Villa Park in two weeks.