Gregory talks tough at the top

John Gregory was right when he pointed out that as Premiership leaders Aston Villa will "keep coming across situations we have not been used to". Falling behind in a home league game was one of them.

But as a new Premiership manager Gregory is also encountering unfamiliar situations and, while Villa reacted to theirs by coming back to take a point, Gregory's response to one of his proved less rewarding.

He had to deal with perhaps his first case of a star Villa player throwing a wobbly after being substituted as he removed an angry Paul Merson from the fray on 82 minutes. But the manager's reaction to the player's reaction was hardly diplomatic. "Tough shit," declared Gregory. "I don't give a toss. I've got to do what's best for the team."

Upsetting a player you valued highly enough to pay £6.7 million for would not appear to fit into that category. For Merson's reaction to Gregory's reaction was equally blunt. "If the manager keeps saying these sorts of things in public, then we will fall out."

Perhaps Gregory's frankness was a calculated strategy to deflate someone he saw acting like a prima donna. "If all the players think I'm a nice bloke, then I ain't doing my job," he added.

But, whatever the truth, Gregory now has to deal with the result of his outburst. And it is handling such psychological games as these, as much as tactics and transfers, which will determine whether the former England international really is a top-class manager and Villa a top-of-the-table side.

So far the jury is out. Although Villa retained their unbeaten record and their four-point lead in the Premiership, Saturday's performance lacked the authoritative sheen one expects of title winners.

Merson had an off day but so did the team, struggling to find the spark and imagination to break down a structured and sweatily defiant Leicester. Perhaps Villa were jaded after their midweek exertions in Europe. But playing Leicester requires sharpness of mind and body, especially with the players buoyed by Martin O'Neill's decision to stay.

Despite being blocked in his attempts to speak to Leeds, O'Neill pronounced himself "dead keen to carry on" at Filbert Street. Asked if this declaration of happiness carried a note of sarcasm, the Irishman insisted no. "I am being deadly serious." He said he owed the chairman John Elsom something for backing him when the fans were booing him at the start of his reign.

But one senses that O'Neill's relationship has still been soured by the directors' intransigence for, when asked about his future, O'Neill's reply hardly smacked of long-term commitment.

"This will not rear its head again in the next month or two or something like that," he said. "I will continue on and see how we do." When asked about the new contract he has been offered, he sounded equally unconvinced.

Keeping hold of Matt Elliott, who is stalling on a new deal and being eyed by Tottenham, will be an early test of the board's commitment to meeting O'Neill's aspirations. The Scotland inter national gave a familiarly imposing performance in the Leicester defence as his side worked to hold on to the lead provided by Tony Cottee's seven-yard bullet into the roof of the net.

Ironically it was a mix-up between Elliott and Frank Sinclair which allowed Ugo Ehiogu to head Villa level on 67 minutes. But, having taken eight points from the last four matches, O'Neill was satisfied with a draw, for now at least.

Aston Villa: Oakes, Charles (Joachim 60), Wright, Southgate, Ehiogu, Taylor, Collymore, Merson (Watson 82), Thompson, Barry, Hendrie. Subs Not Used: Draper, Grayson, Rachel. Booked: Ehiogu. Goals: Ehiogu 68.

Leicester City: Keller, Sinclair, Izzet, Len non, Heskey, Guppy, Savage, Elliott, Ullathorne, Cottee, Zagorakis (Wilson 82). Subs Not Used: Walsh, Parker, Fenton, Arphexad. Booked: Ullathorne, Lennon. Goals: Cottee 36.

Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy).