Gutsy Southampton came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 for the second time in eight days against Aston Villa at St Mary's today.

Gordon Strachan's men recovered at Fulham last Saturday - and mounted another barnstorming comeback today, with Kevin Davies bagging the 89th-minute leveller.

Lowly Villa, with just one away league win all season, had been on the verge of ending their run of four successive defeats after a crazy 15 minutes which saw three goals and the woodwork hit twice.

The game exploded after an opening half-hour in which Villa's former Portsmouth front man Peter Crouch delighted the home fans by fluffing a succession of chances.

Lee Hendrie showed giant striker Crouch how to do it with a polished 22-yard curler into the bottom corner.

And Darius Vassell doubled the Villains' lead in the 36th minute after a defensive howler from Claus Lundekvam, whose underhit back-pass was seized on by the England striker.

Five minutes before the break, Beattie - who had already hit the post, thundered home his 20th league goal of the season, taking him clear of Thierry Henry in the race for the Barclaycard Premiership's golden boot.

That made it 2-1, but Vassell could and should have restored his side's two-goal advantage when he rounded goalkeeper Antti Niemi - only to hit the upright.

Gordon Strachan livened up proceedings with an amusing exchange with referee Graham Barber when the official ruled Ronny Johnsen's clumsy challenge on Beattie was not a penalty.

Strachan responded by racing to the touchline and pulling his jacket over his eyes, implying he - like the ref - could not see what was happening.

But it was Ronny Johnsen who appeared to have a sight problem as he sliced Wayne Bridge's long ball into the air with 30 seconds left. Davies grabbed possession and fired home.

Crouch was only back in Villa's starting line-up because Dion Dublin started his three-match ban for headbutting Birmingham's Robbie Savage.

Strachan left out midfielder Chris Marsden, who feared a booking which would have ruled him out of the FA Cup semi-final against Watford.

Crouch was booed from the start today - and did little to prove his critics wrong when he produced an embarrassing air-shot after four minutes.

Vassell pulled the ball back from the right and Crouch completely missed his shot from eight yards.

The lanky forward then slid in at the far post but failed to touch Thomas Hitzlsperger's cross home - and also shot wide from a clear opening on the edge of the box.

After 30 minutes, the ball squirted square to Hendrie after a forward raid by Vassell - and the little midfielder coolly stroked it past Niemi and into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

Two minutes later, Beattie met Fabrice Fernandes' right-flank cross and powered a header against the face of Stefan Postma's left-hand post.

Villa responded almost immediately by doubling their lead. Lundekvam's back-pass was underhit and Vassell stole in to beat Niemi.

This game had gone goal crazy and the third strike in 10 minutes arrived five minutes before half-time, this time reducing Saints' deficit to a single goal.

Beattie latched onto a deflection on Ormerod's header and blasted home to make it 2-1 and crack the 20-goal barrier.

The home side had a lucky escape at the back after Michael Svensson completely missed his tackle. Vassell rounded Niemi but lost his balance and hit the post from right in front of goal.

The pace of the game slackened somewhat at the start of the second period.

Strachan was at his colourful best on the hour, distracting attention from the action on the field with his exchange with ref Barber.

The Scot received a stern talking to from Barber and a standing ovation from the home crowd.

And Crouch delighted Saints fans again when he headed wide from a great position.

Late on, Villa defender Alan Wright was in the right place at the right time to deny Davies.

He was about to prod home a loose ball as Wright made a crucial intervention.

But Davies was not to be denied and lashed home the equaliser in the 89th minute after Johnsen sliced Bridge's long pass high into the air.

Teams

Southampton Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Bridge, Fernandes (Davies 81), Oakley, Tessem (Higginbotham 45), Prutton (Baird 86), Beattie, Ormerod.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Williams.

Goals: Beattie 40, Davies 90.

Aston Villa Postma, Samuel, Johnsen, Mellberg, Wright, Hadji, Hendrie (Moore 87), Hitzlsperger, Barry, Vassell, Crouch (Allback 70).

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, De la Cruz, Edwards.

Booked: Barry.

Goals: Hendrie 30, Vassell 36.

Att: 31,888

Ref: G Barber (Hertfordshire).