Dean Richards headed his first Premiership goal to give Saints their first league win since August and their first victory over Villa since December 1994.

The big centre-back powered in to nod home from close range seven minutes from time and this time Saints held on after conceding late equalisers in three of their previous four matches.

In fact they almost extended their lead when Marian Pahars hammered in an angled shot which was too hot for David James to hold. Substitute James Beattie charged in but somehow the keeper got a block to divert his close-range effort.

Claus Lundekvam headed over his own bar as Saints went safety first during three minutes of injury time but they had long controlled the game and were in no mood to let it slip and Villa were booed off the field with fans unhappy with manager John Gregory.

But Saints did have some narrow escapes, Alan Thompson rattled the bar and Paul Jones made a superb save from Benito Carbone.

For full match report and pictures see tonight's Pink and Monday's Daily Echo

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