Coventry striker Robbie Keane piled on the agony for Aston Villa manager John Gregory by grabbing the winner in last night's game at Highfield Road.

Gregory had pulled out of the deal to sign Keane from Wolves earlier in the season - and he came back to haunt the struggling Villa boss with a 65th-minute decider.

The pressure is mounting as Villa's sequence without a win was extended to seven games, although it seems likely that Gregory will be given more time by Villa chairman Doug Ellis to try and put matters right.

In contrast these are halcyon days for a Coventry. The vision and trickery of Keane is only the tip of the iceberg, with plenty of other flair provided by the likes of Youssef Chippo and skipper Gary McAllister. But Keane is the jewel in the crown and Coventry must be thankful to Gregory for pulling out of the deal to sign the Irish international.

Keane's efforts helped Coventry extend their unbeaten run to eight games and in the process end a run of six successive defeats by Villa at Highfield Road.

But for Villa any aspirations of renewing their bid for a UEFA Cup spot seem a mere pipe dream unless they start to show more quality and purpose.

The statistics show that their only effort on goal came via Dion Dublin's first-half equaliser after Coventry had taken the lead in the eighth minute.

Chippo found Keane on the left of the area and his pace left Mark Delaney for dead before he delivered an inviting near-post cross. Cedric Roussel was first to react and his powerful header gave goalkeeper David James no chance. In the 65th minute Keane had the Coventry fans in raptures with his seventh goal in 12 games. Delaney lost possession and let in Chippo on the left flank and he squared the ball into the path of the onrushing Keane who made no mistake.

COVENTRY: Hedman, Telfer, Williams, Breen, Hall, Hadji, Palmer, McAllister, Chippo (Burrows 89), Keane, Roussel (Whelan 87). Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Konjic, Eustace. Booked: Telfer. Goals: Roussel 8, Keane 65.

ASTON VILLA: James, Delaney (Watson 75), Southgate, Calderwood, Wright, Stone, Taylor, Boateng, Hendrie, Dublin, Joachim (Vassell 75). Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Merson, Carbone. Booked: Hendrie, Taylor, Boateng. Goals: Dublin 41.

Referee: G Barber (Tring, Herts).