*Collymore back but Villa falter*

John Gregory, the Villa manager, sprang a surprise by naming Stan Collymore among his substitutes. Only hours earlier Gregory maintained that Collymore was still in a clinic receiving treatment for stress and depression and would not be returning to the club in the foreseeable future.

However, that surprise was nothing compared with what Leeds had in store for Villa in an opening half which the visitors totally dominated. Both sides went into the game with two successive league defeats behind them, with Villa also having the embarrassment of a FA Cup exit by second division Fulham.

David O’Leary, the Leeds manager, opted for three changes, two of them forced on him because of injury to Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate. O’Leary also relegated Alan Smith to the bench and gave a first start to 18-year-old Welsh midfielder Matthew Jones.

Leeds always looked the livelier while Villa’s overall play lacked direction. The visitors made their superiority count as early as the eighth minute with a fine goal from Jimmy Hasselbaink, his 13th of the season but only his second in the last nine games.

Ian Harte took a quick throw deep in his own half to Hasselbaink, who eased past Riccardo Scimeca, then powered goalward as Gareth Barry took chase.

But the Dutchman’s speed proved too much for Villa’s England under 21 defender and the finish was clinical, a right-foot shot from 15 yards beating keeper Michael Oakes at his near post.

Villa attempted to pick up the pace with Julian Joachim and Barry trying long-range efforts, which failed to trouble Leeds keeper Nigel Martyn. Then Lee Hendrie just failed to reach a Joachim cross.

But Villa, with their title hopes fast fading, were guilty of ragged play, and the Villa fans quickly made their feelings known. But the Leeds pressure brought further reward in the 32nd minute.

Gareth Southgate and Steve Watson combined to fell Willem Korsten only a yard outside the penalty area and the confident Hasselbaink eagerly stepped forward to swerve a precision free kick around the Villa wall and beyond Oakes.

Although Villa displayed more urgency in the second period, the overall quality of their play still left much to be desired.

Collymore was introduced in the 72nd minute but it was Villa’s other substitute, Alan Thompson, who gave his side hope, providing the corner kick for Scimeca to rise unmarked and head home from 10 yards.