Aston Villa FC

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• Founded:1874
• Manager:Gerard Houllier

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Victorious Villa move up to fourth

29 Aug 2010 - 18:18:20

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Luke Young's early goal lifted Aston Villa up to fourth in the Premier League table as Kevin MacDonald's side responded well to a disastrous week by beating Everton 1-0.

Villa lost 6-0 at Newcastle United seven days ago before being dumped out of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna for the second successive season but they produced a bright display against an Everton side that has struggled in the opening three matches of the campaign.

David Moyes' side created enough chances to have secured a share of the spoils at least but were made to pay for some wayward finishing as they slumped into the bottom three.

The only goal of the match came in the ninth minute when Marouane Feliiani's mistake allowed Ashley Young to set up right-back Luke Young who fired home from 15 yards out.

Jack Rodwell wasted Everton's best chance of equalising when he headed Mikel Arteta's second-half free-kick inches wide.

Villa suffered a blow before the kick-off when new signing Stephen Ireland picked up an injury in the warm-up and had to be replaced in the starting line-up by Nigel Reo-Coker.

Although the hosts were forced on to the back foot for long periods by Everton, Moyes' side lacked a cutting edge although Steven Pienaar went close when he curled a shot past Brad Freidel only for the ball to come back in to play after hitting the crossbar.

Villa youngster Marc Albrighton fired a shot narrowly wide of Tim Howard's goal just before the interval and the Everton keeper had to be at his best to keep out an Ashley Young effort after the break.

However, at the other end, Friedel made a great save to deny Felliani an equaliser while substitute Louis Saha fired a late chance straight at the veteran shot-stopper as Everton slumped to another damaging defeat.