Soccer:Alex McLeish admitted Shay Given had got him and Aston Villa off the hook with a point-saving debut in yesterday's Premier League opener at Fulham. McLeish was not exactly welcomed with open arms at Villa Park and defeat would have provided ammunition to his critics.

And but for new signing Given, that could easily have been the outcome today, the Republic of Ireland star making several saves in what was otherwise a pretty dire goalless draw.

McLeish said: “The bottom line is, when there was all the furore, I always said it’s about results. We started the league with a very good away point.”

He added of Given, who Villa rescued from his Manchester City nightmare last month: “His experience tells him when to go into the right positions. You might have seen other goalies diving for one of the two that came point-blank at him, but that’s the experience of a great goalkeeper.”

Any antagonism towards McLeish from the hordes of travelling Villa fans was drowned out by their new-season optimism as they gave team and manager a rousing reception as they entered the field.

“I was very, very pleased to walk across the turf and the Villa fans were very appreciative,” McLeish said. “I was delighted with it.

Supporters would have left ambivalent about what they saw, with Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer not having had a serious shot to save.

But McLeish insisted a draw was a good result.

“I don’t consider it a bad one, that’s for sure,” he said. “Anyone coming here, I think will find it hard. Fulham have taken some massive scalps at Craven Cottage over the years.”