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Southampton derailed Aston Villa’s Champions League dreams by holding them in a full-blooded game at St Mary’s.

Villa’s Juan Pablo Angel notched his 23rd goal of the season by converting a controversial penalty after referee Howard Webb spotted a push.

Kevin Phillips looked to be offside as he latched on to Anders Svensson’s pass to level in first-half injury time.

Villa sub Peter Crouch wasted a chance to nick the points when he planted a free header at keeper Antti Niemi.

Fabrice Fernandes, restored to the Saints team, whipped in two dangerous early crosses, the first inches ahead of James Beattie’s lunge and the second headed behind for a corner by Ulises de la Cruz.

Gavin McCann led Villa’s reply but, having made a yard of shooting space for himself, opted to try and play Lee Hendrie in and the chance was lost.

Saints’ normally reliable keeper Antti Niemi hesitated as Darius Vassell chased a long ball and, when he did decide to come, the Finnish keeper just got there first.

A fine, open game swung from end to end and just after David Prutton sliced wide from eight yards when found by Fernandes’ cross, McCann slid the ball wide of the goal as he connected with De la Cruz’s cross at the far post.

Young Villa central defender Liam Ridgewell escaped retribution in dumping both Phillips and Beattie on the floor, but he was denied a goal when Niemi produced a superb save to keep out his header.

Niemi was there again on 32 minutes, another brilliant save denying Barry as Villa worked a training-ground free-kick.

Phillips should have given Southampton the lead on 32 minutes, Beattie’s clever header setting up the former England striker, who turned Ronny Johnsen only to drag his shot wide from seven yards out.

Something had to give and Villa got the break on 39 minutes when referee Howard Webb spotted Danny Higginbotham’s push on Johnsen. It gave Angel the chance to send Niemi the wrong way from the penalty spot for his 23rd goal of the season.

Southampton’s sense of injustice was appeased in first-half injury-time when Beattie linked up well with Anders Svensson, who threaded a pass through for Phillips - who looked to be offside - to finish crisply.

Svensson opened the second half in bright fashion when he cut in from the left touchline to curl a shot inches wide of the far post.

Angel was the focal point as Villa raised the tempo and he planted a header over the top from De la Cruz’s cross.

Ridgewell acquitted himself well and he snaked out a leg to deny Beattie as he moved on to Svensson’s pass.

Referee Webb again incensed the home fans by ignoring penalty appeals when Yoann Folly was brought down by Johnsen.

Villa boss David O’Leary replaced Vassell with Peter Crouch and the former Portsmouth striker should have put Villa ahead on 73 minutes, but he sent a free header straight at Niemi.