Date:11/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/11/stories/2009011155751500.htm

Sport - Football

Aston Villa beats West Bromwich

— PHOTO: AFP

ON TARGET: Curtis Davies (right) of Aston Villa scores his team’s first goal against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa consolidated its place in the English Premier League football’s top four with a 2-1 win over local rival West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Martin O’Neill’s team moved above Manchester United into third place thanks to Curtis Davies’s strike against his former club and an own goal from Scott Carson at Villa Park.

James Morrison got one back for Albion soon after half-time but Villa, now unbeaten in nine matches, held on for a fifth win in six games.

With Arsenal spluttering, Villa has a golden opportunity to shake up the Premier League’s established order by edging the Gunners out of the Champions League places.

It was below its best for long periods here but, still did enough to beat an Albion team desperate for the points to haul itself off the bottom of the table.

Albion was looking to win a league game at Villa Park for the first time since May 1979 and it started brightly enough without creating any serious chances.

Robert Koren tested Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel for the first time when he collected Jay Simpson’s pass and drove goalwards.

But, against the run of play, Villa went ahead after 19 minutes through former Albion defender Davies.

Steve Sidwell had two headers cleared off the line following a Barry corner by James Morrison and Greening.

But when Barry delivered the ball into the danger area for the third time, no-one picked up Davies, who headed past Carson and barely celebrated despite the taunts of the visiting fans.

The result: Aston Villa 2 (Davies 19, Carson 41-og) bt West Brom 1 (Morrison 49). — Agencies