Aston Villa leapfrogged Arsenal into the last Cham pions League plac-

ing here on Tuesday as an own goal by Kamil Zayatte gifted them a 1 -0 victory over Hull City in the last Premier League match of the year.

Zayatte turned his attempted clearance from Ashley Young's cross past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill to extend Villa's unbeaten sequence to eight while Hull must be staring anxiously at the bottom three as they have only won once in their last 11 games.

They looked to be on course to salvage a point in time added on when referee Steve Bennett awarded them a penalty for handball but after i onsulting with a linesman he correctly rescinded his decision as former Real Madrid target Young had not handled the ball, though he did raise his arm as the ball went over the bar.

Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry praised Bennett after the match.

"That sort of decision

doesn't happen too often," said Barry.

"The referee deserves a lot of credit for changing his mind.'

Young said that hi* attempt to save the ball had been instinctive.

"I was on the post and it was a reflex reaction It hit the bar and it went over.

"It's a good feeling to be up there above Arsenal and level on points with Manchester United."

Villa manager Martin O'Neill was delighted to have taken three points from a game that looked likely to end in a draw.

"I am absolutely delighted with the result because we didn't play very well tonight (Tbcsday)," said the former Northern Ireland international.

ONcdlwlult.pdyln(!crcd|, to Bennett (or changing hl, mind was hoping that Young would not be quite so theatn cal next time.

I wasn't best pleased with Yoimg. said O'Neill.

It is not often 1 am not pleased with Young. However, he has said he would not do it again and I am hoping that is a promise and not a threat!"

Hull's veteran former England striker Nicky Barmby T thought he might have got the ' opener early in the first-half but Bennett adjudged correctly that he had barged Villa keeper Brad Friedel -- who was making his 172nd successive Premier League appearance - before stabbing the ball home

Indeed despite Vtlla playing the most creative football it was Hull that were slightly more effective in the danger areas and it took a desperate headed clearance by Curtis Davies 10 minutes from the break to stop Hull capitalising on a fine move.

The second-half was a similar period to the first where Villa played the pretty football but were unable to impose themselves as Hull's players stopped them every time they looked dangerou s.