LEEDS goalkeeper Nigel Martyn celebrated his England squad call-up by keeping his 21st clean sheet of the season to deny Villa a win they needed to boost their hopes of European qualification.

Martyn repeatedly frustrated Villa with the calibre of his saves and kept intact Leeds' record of not conceding a home Premiership goal since Christmas.

Villa dictated midfield, where Sasa Curcic fully justified his recall but a mistake by Alan Wright eight minutes from the end almost gifted Leeds the points. Wright slipped 25 yards out, leaving Scottish striker Derek Lilley in the clear, but George Graham's recent signing from Greenock Morton tired agonisingly wide of the far post.

Martyn brought off fine saves to deny Gareth Southgate, Andy Townsend, Savo Milosevic and Dwight Yorke in the first hall, while Yorke and Ehiogu were guilty of glaring misses from in side the penalty box:

Curcic showed glimpses of the form that prompted Villa to pay Bolton £4 million for the talented Serb, but after cleverly weaving his way through on the left his perfectly delivered cross was driven straight at Martyn by Ehiogu from the best chance of the match.

Leeds' finishing was equally disappointing, with skipper Ian Rush the prime culprit.

Rush was put through by Carltori Palmer only to drive the ball wide of the near post: Then when Gary Kelly picked him out with a chipped pass, Rush's glancing header razed the crossbar.

Leeds livened up just after the hour with Rod Wallace's introduction in place of ineffective Frenchman Pierre Laurent. But Martyn had to produce the save of the match when Yorke's clever back-heel was drilled towards the far corner of the net only for the agile goalkeeper to swoop low to his right and show once again why he has been Leeds player of the season.