STEVE HODGE, the Leeds United substitute, ensured Howard Wilkinson's side return to the European Cup for the first time in 17 years this week without a morale-sapping third Premier League defeat. With only five minutes remaining of a frenzied game that Aston Villa had dominated, Hodge, a peripheral figure in Leeds' plans, clinched an important equaliser against one of his old sides. Had Dean Saunders showed such composure 25 minutes earlier, then not only would there have been instant evidence to support the £2.3m outlay by Ron Atkinson, but also Leeds would have been condemned to their third defeat. Kevin Richardson's incisive pass allowed Saunders his only clear sighting of goal in the 60th minute of his debut, and the discarded Liverpool striker looked certain to celebrate his escape from Anfield with a goal. The Welsh international struck his shot firmly enough but, to his and Villa's dismay Saunders saw John Lukic, the experienced Leeds goalkeeper. thrust out a left arm to deflect the effort away for a corner. It would be harsh on Saunders and unfair on Lukic to blame the striker for not extending a Villa lead that had Saunders misses instant chance to repay Villa. Houghton has all the credentials to be the bargain signing of the season, and he showed in the 19th minute that he has lost none of his zest and enthusiasm for the challenge. Chris Whyte's attempt to lift the siege mounted on the Leeds goal from the opening moments, took a free kick too swiftly for Gary Speed, and Houghton, ever searching for an opportunity, combined with the promising Earl Barrett to steal the ball. Houghton, a member of the Liverpool side that was the last to win here in April 199 carried the ball on, spotted Parker's late run into the box, and the former Nottingham Forest midfielder swept his shot beyond the diving Lukic. Without the pace of Rod Wallace. who was injured at Old Trafford last week. Leeds attack appeared ineffective for long periods in a game which Atkinson will argue that Villa should have settled long before Hodge's equaliser. Barrett, for once abandoning his shackling of the lightweight Scott Sellars, should have at least exercised Lukic from a Houghton cross, but instead headed harmlessly over the bar. Saunders was denied by Lukic and then a rather zealous linesman indicated rather mystifyingly, that either Steve Froggatt or Saunders had wandered offside before forcing home a cross-shot by the dangerous Dalian Atkinson. This time McAllister, wonderfully supported in an alien right-back position late in the game by the tireless Gordon Strachan, delivered a cross which Cantona touched into the path of Hodge, who had replaced Jon Newsome in the 69th minute. Hodge beat Nigel Spink, who did little to substantiate his Sunday morning claim that he is now the best goalkeeper in England.