Date:11/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/11/stories/2009011160931700.htm

Sport - Football

Aston Villa climbs to third

— PHOTO: AFP

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

LONDON: Aston Villa climbed to third in the English Premier League on Saturday when a terrible error by its former goalkeeper Scott Carson earned a 2-1 home victory over bottom club West Bromwich Albion. 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.

Arsenal kept in touch with the top four as Nicklas Bendtner’s late goal secured a 1-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers. The Gunners remain fifth, level on 38 points with champion Manchester United, which hosts Chelsea on Sunday.

Villa has 41 points from 21 games, four behind leader Liverpool. Everton has 35 points in sixth place after a 2-0 home victory over sliding Hull City.

Newcastle United drew 2-2 at home to West Ham United, while Middlesbrough and Sunderland shared a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium.

Matches postponed

Two matches fell victim to the icy weather conditions, with Portsmouth’s home game against Manchester City and Fulham v Blackburn Rovers postponed because of frozen pitches.

The results:

Arsenal 1 (Nicklas Bendtner 84) bt Bolton Wanderers 0; Everton 2 (Marouane Fellaini 18, Mikel Arteta 45+1) bt Hull City 0; Middlesbrough 1 (Afonso Alves 45) drew with Sunderland 1 (Kenwyne Jones 82); .

Newcastle United 2 (Michael Owen 19, Andy Carroll 78) drew with West Ham United 2 (Craig Bellamy 29, Carlton Cole 55); Aston Villa 2 (Curtis Davies 18, Scott Carson 41-og) bt West Bromwich Albion 1 (James Morrison 49). — Agencies