JUSSI Jaaskelainen is on top of the world after putting Wanderers back in the Champions League hunt with his Villa Park super show.

The mighty Finn, hero of so many triumphs in his nine years at the Reebok, produced a flawless display, pulling off a string of match-winning saves - one of breathtaking quality - before Gary Speed scored the only goal from the penalty spot 15 minutes from time.

It was a virtuoso performance that helped the Whites regain fifth place in the Premiership and prompted Sam Allardyce to hail Jaaskelainen as the equal of any in the league.

Skipper, Kevin Nolan, said he wouldn't trade the Reebok number one for any keeper in the world.

"I know I'm his manager and I'm biased but I don't think there is anyone better," the Wanderers boss said.

"Perhaps he is not the best, but he's as good as the rest at the top end, and that consistency has shown throughout this season.

"A top keeper can win you between nine and 12 points a season and he's won us many points already this year, as he did last year.

"On Saturday, we got a win we didn't deserve and I won't hide behind the fact that we weren't as good as Aston Villa and were lucky to win it. He was probably the only player who was really at his best and deserved it."

Jaaskelainen kept his eighth clean sheet of the season with a performance of assured handling, intelligent anticipation and a presence that intimidated the Villa attackers. But it was his two second half efforts, the first a reaction stop to deny Craig Gardner then a sensational fingertip save to keep out Gary Cahill's long-range shot, that proved decisive.

Allardyce, who inherited Jaaskelainen when he arrived in October 1999, said the 31-year-old Finland international was now on a par with the likes of Chelsea's Petr Cech, who is widely regarded as the best keeper in the Premiership.

Yet, despite his high ranking, he says there has never been an approach from a rival club that would tempt him to sell while the player himself has never been anything but happy at the Reebok.

"We try to keep our players as happy as we possibly can and give them as much help as we possibly can," he added. "We give them a place where they like to come and work, and that can go a long way when you can't pay more than the other clubs are paying.

"Anyway, if you're successful, the money will follow. You should never chase it.

"There is always an opportunity for a bigger club to make such a bid that you can't resist it, but that's not happened up to now - certainly not while I've been here."

Nolan jokingly played down the quality of Jaaskelainen's save from Cahill, suggesting "He pulls them off every day in training so I don't want to blow his trumpet too much. He always gets a big head."

But, in a serious assessment of the man who has been Wanderers' undisputed number one since they returned to the Premiership in 2001, he said: "I wouldn't swap Jussi Jaaskelainen for any Premiership keeper, or any keeper in the world.

"He is up there with whoever people think is the number one in the Premiership.

"He was out of contract in the summer and we were all delighted to have him signed up for another few years. Hopefully we've got him here for a good few years yet."