Aston Villa are level on points with Tottenham in the race for fourth position in the Premiership after a disputed penalty gave them a narrow 1-0 win over local rivals Birmingham City at Villa Park. With seven minutes remaining Roger Johnson appeared to win the ball in a challenge with Gabriel Agbonlahor but referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot and James Milner Milner smashed it home.

Birmingham had every right to feel aggrieved as they had the better of the chances but found Villa keeper Brad Friedel in fine form.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:"It's a major victory for us.

"We hung in there all second half. We were second best for a good part of it, Birmingham were very strong in the second half.

"We had played midweek and the previous midweek as well but we hung in and it was a fantastic victory.

"Since the Chelsea debacle at Stamford Bridge (7-1 defeat) we've picked up 13 out of 15 points which shows you our staying power. Birmingham boss Alex McLeish was understandably not impressed with the officials:

"I shook his (referee Atkinson's) hand at the end as I always do with the refs and said: 'you called it wrong, the big decision and you didn't get it right, I didn't think you were up with the play to make that call.

"He clearly wasn't up with the play. Because of Agbonlahor on the break it is difficult for referees to keep up but it wasn't a clear-cut decision and you can't give it if you're not sure.

"A big crowd can make a big influence, you can hear 40,000 screaming and think 'Oh that must have been a penalty, I'd better give that.'

"Mr Atkinson has got to hold his hands up."