Ginola rewards Gregory's faith to deny Rennes

Aston Villa 1 Stade Rennes 0 2-2 on agg; Aston Villa win on away-goals rule

John Gregory's decision to give David Ginola a rare place in the starting line-up brought a prompt pay-off as the Birmingham side clinched an Intertoto Cup final-round place on away goals after scoring the only goal of last night's semi-final round second leg in the fifth minute.

Although Villa rode their luck against lively and technically accomplished French opponents, they somehow managed to preserve the advantage gained when Dion Dublin steered home Ginola's cross. They now meet the Swiss club Basle over two legs for a place in the Uefa Cup, travelling to Switzerland next Tuesday.

Villa had kept themselves in the tie with a last-minute goal from Darius Vassell in France last week, having trailed 2-0, and they drew further encouragement from the Stade Rennes team-sheet for last night's match, which showed eight changes following a 5-0 thrashing suffered at Auxerre in a league game last weekend.

Only goalkeeper Eric Durand, defender Julian Escude and striker Cyril Chapuis survived from the first leg, although there was no obvious loss of quality from the French First Division side, nor any reduction in their ability to create chances.

Indeed, after Villa had gained their precious early goal, they were troubled repeatedly by the visitors. Peter Enckelman, covering for Peter Schmeichel in Villa's goal as the Dane recovers from a calf injury, was grateful when Olivier Monterrubio's free header went straight into his hands. Monterrubio caused further problems moments later, with Villa dependent on the interception of Alpay Ozalan's boot to deflect his effort for a corner.

Villa looked far from comfortable and it was well they had Dublin's goal to give them the upper hand. Ginola's superb cross was almost unmissable, the ball sitting up perfectly to be steered home from five yards.

They were stretched again five minutes into the second half when Enckelman, having seen Gaël Danic's volley driven inches wide, stood up bravely to defy Chapuis. But, despite being second best in midfield and snuffed out for the most part going forward, Villa's luck held.

"We were hanging on by the skin of our teeth but it is the result that counts and David produced a piece of brilliance of the kind we know he is capable," Gregory said afterwards.

Aston Villa (4-3-2-1): Enckelman; Delaney, Alpay, Barry, Wright; Kachloul, Boateng, Hendrie (Stone, 76); Merson (Hadji, 57), Ginola (Vassell, 85); Dublin. Substitutes not used: Myhill (gk), Angel, Samuel, Staunton.

Stade Rennes (4-4-2): Durand; Gregoire, Diatta, Escude, Paisley; Yapi, Bigné, Vanderson (Le Roux, 59), Danic; Monterrubio (Piquionne, 77), Chapuis (Lucas, 51). Substitutes not used: Arribagé, Fabien (gk), Gourvennec, Reveillere.

Referee: W Stark (Germany).