*Saints fight back to deny Villa*

An injury-time goal from substitute Kevin Davies salvaged a point for Southampton against struggling Aston Villa.

Without a win in nearly two months it was cruel finale for a Villa side, who at one stage had led by two goals.

Villa rediscovered the goalscoring habit - Graham Taylor’s side had failed to score in nearly five hours - in a match that exploded into life on 30 minutes.

Lee Hendrie scored with a slick finish and Darius Vassell added a second six minutes later.

Just before the interval James Beattie scored his 20th Premiership goal of the season and with time running out Davies popped up with that late finish.

Standing forlornly amid the goalrush was the former Portsmouth striker Crouch, who has failed to score in any competition this season for Villa.

Back on the south coast, he was roundly booed from the start and his confidence took a further battering as he missed a succession of chances.

After four minutes Vassell pulled the ball back from the right, and Crouch completely missed his shot from eight yards.

He then slid in at the far post but failed to touch Thomas Hitzlsperger’s cross home.

Hendrie showed Crouch how to do it as the Villa midfielder sparked an enthralling passage of play.

The ball squirted square to the little midfielder after a forward raid by Vassell - and Hendrie coolly stroked it past Antti Niemi.

Claus Lundekvam’s then underhit his back-pass and Vassell took advantage to poke the ball past Niemi.

After Villa’s first goal Beattie had met Fabrice Fernandes’ cross and powered a header against Stefan Postma’s left-hand post.

His aim proved truer on 40 minutes when he latched onto a deflection to thump the ball home.

Vassell then rounded Niemi but lost his balance and hit the post from right in front of goal.

Niemi also saved from Crouch and Hendrie at the end of an thrilling 15 minute period of play.

The pace and excitement of second half never matched the opening period, though Crouch delighted the home crowd when he headed wide from a great position.

In the 68th minute Ronny Johnsen, on a forward raid, almost squeezed the ball past Niemi from a tight angle.

Davies lashed home the equaliser in the 90th minute after a horrendous Johnsen error, slicing Wayne Bridge’s long ball high into the air.