A MAGNIFICENTLY disciplined performance by Aston Villa in northern Spain last night offered English football its last realistic hope of success in the UEFA Cup. They go into the return in Birmingham in a fortnight confident of reaching the third round.

Little took a gamble by fielding three strikers. Savo Milosevic, whose extra-time goal against Bordeaux took Villa into the second round, kept his place alongside Stan Collymore, returning from a domestic suspension, while Dwight Yorke sat just behind.

It was Villa who appeared more likely to score in the opening exchanges and when Milosevic met Alan Wright's cross, he should have done better than offer a less than venomous strike which goalkeeper Imanol Etxeberria had little problem in saving.

Soon afterwards, from the beat Bilbao to draw game's first corner, Mark Draper's kick was planted only narrowly over the target by the Villa captain, Gareth Southgate.

Bilbao, who have scored only six goals in the Primera Liga but who saw off Sampdoria in the previous round, rallied briefly when Javi Gonzalez's shot was headed away by Wright.

Wright offered his strikers another good opportunity when his 26th-minute cross was heading for Draper and Collymore, but a timely interception by Carlos Garcia ended the danger.

But in the 38th minute Yorke missed a chance he may rue for some time. From a Collymore pass with a one-on-one chance, he planted the ball wide. Villa almost stole a goal when Grayson had a shot cleared off the line by Roberto Rios, then Draper and Milosevic went close.