2-1

Delighted John Gregory roared ‘bring on the champions’ after watching Villa produce a season’s best display to stun big-spending Leeds.

But David Ginola was involved in a controversial exchange with Leeds fans after he reacted angrily to ‘cheat’ chants from the Elland Road crowd.

If Villa re-produce yesterday’s form though, a Merry Christmas double could be on the cards when Villa entertain Manchester United on Boxing Day.

Want-away skipper Gareth Southgate and George Boateng sent Villa’s travelling contingent away full of festive fun with goals late in each half.

Villa have now beaten Leeds three times on the trot, and have lost just five times in the last 39 games.

Leeds must be sick of the sight of Southgate, who popped up with his third scrambled goal in two games at Elland Road.

But it was Ginola who bossed the show with a scintillating first half display, while Alpay was outstanding after the break.

Gregory was full of praise for his players, in particular ‘unsung hero’ Steve Stone, who kept a tight leash on the gifted Harry Kewell throughout.

But he was quick to point out that if Villa want to claim a Champions League spot next season, they will have to take points off more than just a Leeds.

‘It was a great result, and I think we thoroughly deserved it on the balance of play,’ said Gregory.

‘David Ginola had an outstanding first 45 minutes, although he was blowing a bit at the end, and we chose to bring him off.’

Even after being substituted, the action was not over for the explosive Frenchman. He had been booed throughout and as he strolled off to a chorus of ‘cheat, cheat, cheat,’ he rounded on Leeds fans in the main stand before being dragged away by Gregory.

‘David got smacked in the mouth a couple of times, and he was uptight,’ added Gregory.

‘But in England we tend to just get on with it. It wasn’t a big thing. Aside from David, Lee Hendrie had a fantastic game, and Paul Merson bossed everything from the middle of the park again. That is definitely his best position.

‘I thought Steve Stone was outstanding. He had as difficult task as you could ask for, trying to mark Harry Kewell, but he did as he always does. No fuss, he just gets on with the job. You have to look at the likes of Stoney and Alan Wright as our unsung heroes.

‘We have shown again that we are a good Premiership side. But we take on the champions in a couple of days time, and we have got to beat the top three or four sides on a regular basis if we are to consider ourselves serious contenders for a Champions League place.

‘We manage to beat teams in 16th or 17th place, but in the final analysis that just isn’t good enough. We have to beat the Manchester United’s and the Arsenals of this world, which is something we have really struggled to do in the last few years.’

Villa had to win without the assistance of Dion Dublin, who had more important things to worry about after his wife gave birth to a baby girl in the early hours of Saturday morning.

In came Gilles De Bilde for only his second start since arriving on loan from Sheffield Wednesday two months ago.

De Bilde threw himself into the action enthusiastically from the off, but it was the silky Gallic skills of Ginola that caught the eye.

Last week it was fat boy. This week it was main man.

One breathtaking run, where he bamboozled first Lee Bowyer, then Gary Kelly, and finally Jonathan Woodgate, had Gregory on his feet.

With Merson pivotal in the centre of midfield, and Ginola popping all over the place, Villa played some superb possession football, and could have been one up after 27 minutes when George Boateng blazed over after being teed up superbly by Ginola’s curling cross from the left.

Two minutes before the interval, Southgate gave Villa a deserved lead when he dived in to nod home after Leeds had failed to deal with Merson’s ball into the six yard box.

Southgate needed two bites at the cherry, after his first effort was blocked by a despairing Eirik Bakke. After the break, Villa continued to play the better football against a Leeds side who must have got into the Christmas spirit a bit too early.

In a last throw of the dice, David O’Leary threw on loan star Robbie Keane, who received a rousing reception, with 24 minutes to go.

Gregory admitted afterwards he was more than a little disturbed by Keane’s introduction. Boateng, however, wasn’t about to stand on ceremony, and he flattened the former Coventry City star a split second after he had got his second touch.

Keane’s arrival heralded a late Leeds cavalry charge, and James was forced to pull off two spectacular saves before denying Keane brilliantly with two minutes left.

Alpay cleared to Merson on the left, who sprinted away before squaring perfectly for Boateng to clinch the points.

Woodgate gave Villa a late scare with a goal in stoppage time, but even with the Keane factor, Villa had it in the bag.