Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa match report: The Sunday Mirror verdict

England hitman Emile Heskey came to Aston Villa’s rescue with a face-saving equaliser, just as it looked like Burnley boss Owen Coyle would celebrate his second anniversary in charge at Turf Moor with another home win.

With 10 minutes to go and Burnley hanging on to their early lead through Steve Caldwell’s first strike of the season, Villa looked desperate.

That was when Martin O’Neill played his ace card by sending on Heskey with the sole task of grabbing a leveller.

It came with just four minutes to go as pre-season £12 million signing Stewart Downing, also a late substitute,  curled in a corner.

‘Great Dane’ keeper Brian Jensen punched it out, but only as far as James Milner.

The former Newcastle man put the ball back in the goalmouth mix and big man Heskey just managed to get his head to it.

O’Neill said: “Emile was very important for us. His reputation may be as a provider, but he took his chance well.

“We were stodgy in the first half, which is a surprise after our last outing against Bolton.

“It was a big plus for Downing too. He’s a distance away from real match fitness, but he got a little spurt out there and can only improve, although it will be after Christmas before we see the best of him.”

It was tough on Burnley, who had dominated the match for long spells.

Coyle said: “We were well placed to get all three points, but you can’t ask more from your players. They worked their socks off. It might turn out to be an important point too.

“No one gifts you anything at this level, but we’ve shown that we’re here on merit.

“We may be a mismatch in terms of money and resources, but we have belief.”

Burnley’s early strike was courtesy of skipper Caldwell. The 28-year-old Scottish international beat Richard Dunne to nod home past stranded keeper Brad Friedel after nine minutes.

It was Burnley’s first set-piece goal of the campaign so far – and full marks to Robbie Blake for pin-pointing his free-kick from the left flank just inside the far post to give Caldwell his chance.

Villa’s Steve Sidwell gave the Clarets some bite as he broke through to get in their first real shot. It went wide, but Sidwell was there again, this time being checked by Caldwell.

Even when Sidwell wriggled free again, his shot was palmed away by Jensen, with World Cup referee Howard Webb ruling a foul had occurred anyway.

Ashley Young threatened to add to his season’s three-goal tally as he fired a shot just over the bar and then sent a long-distance effort wide.

But it was Burnley who took the eye with their fast-paced, pass-and-move soccer.

It just looked a matter of time before Burnley’s Cameroon

international Andre Bikey got on the scoresheet to celebrate his country qualifying for the World Cup last week.

Bikey tried his best to get on the end of another Blake free-kick, but was beaten to it by Dunne.

Then Bikey got in the goalmouth mix again to nod a corner just wide but, in the end, Heskey did the trick and saved Villa’s blushes.