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Villa have held on to their half-time lead as West Brom failed to break them down in a frantic second half and take all three points away from the Hawthorns
Martin Laursen typifies the commitment of the Villa players with some determined defending
Villa are working hard to preserve their lead and are frustrating the Baggies
There's four minutes added time as West Brom win a corner but it comes to nothing
West Brom are launching balls forward but Villa are coping so far
Villa make their final change as man of the match John Carew is replaced by Carlos Cuellar
Ashley Young goes into the book for a challenge on Leon Barnett
The home fans are urging their players on, no-one's leaving this game early
West Brom are huffing and puffing as they try to carve out an opening but it's Villa who look more dangerous on the break
Stiliyan Petrov is replaced by Craig Gardner for Villa
The Baggies aren't helping their cause as they once again give the ball away
Young's free-kick is deflected behind for a corner which is cleared by West Brom
Villa break forward as another West Brom move is broken up and Kim Do-Heon concedes a free-kick just outside the area
This is better from West Brom as Jonathan Greening forces Brad Friedel into a save with a teasing cross from the left
John Carew is booked as he carries on his attack after Mike Dean blows his whistle for a foul
James Milner is brought on for Nicky Shorey as Martin O'Neill looks to change his team around
West Brom's fans are becoming impatient as their players fail to trouble Brad Friedel
Stiliyan Petrov is down again clutching his ankle following a challenge from Miller but recovers and carries on
Nigel Reo-Coker's effort goes wide as the rest of the Villa players appeal for a penalty from a West Brom handball, Mike Dean waves away the appeals
Young is causing his usual problems as Villa win another free-kick which West Brom manage to clear
Miller can only head over from the resultant free-kick
Luke Moore is booked for bringing down Miller as West Brom come forward
Nigel Reo-Coker tries his luck from outside the area and Scott Carson is quickly down to his left to keep it out
Martin O'Neill is berating his players after a Gareth Barry corner comes to nothing
There's some tired legs out there now as the pace of the game hasn't slowed in the heat
The home side are controlling possession in the second half but can't find their way past Villa's defence
Luke Moore almost makes an immediate impact but his close range effort following a Greening corner is put behind by Villa
Ironic cheers greet each West Brom free-kick as the crowd make their feelings known about Mike Dean
West Brom make a double change as Luke Moore and Ishmael Miller come on for Roman Bednar and Iglesias Borja Valero
Stiliyan Petrov is down receiving attention but looks to be okay
Martin O'Neill can't believe his side aren't further ahead
John Carew hits the post again from a header from a Stiliyan Petrov cross, West Brom having no answer to him in the air
Borja Valero is booked for a trip on Young as Villa press forward
John Carew hits the post from a lovely thoughball from Nigel Reo-Coker with Scott Carson beaten
Tony Mowbray is down on the touchline encouraging his players to keep up the pressure
West Brom are piling on the pressure but Villa are defending well
Gianni Zuiverloon almost levels just after the restart with a powerful long-range effort that's just over the bar
Villa kick off the second half with their fans hoping to see more of the same
Dean brings an end to a pulsating first half filled with end-to-end action
Brad Friedel makes amends for his earlier error with a fine save from a Kim Do-Heon header from close range
Roman Bednar is penalised for a challenge on Martin Laursen and Mike Dean is getting a lot of stick from the home fans
The Baggies fans aren't happy with the referee as Villa win another free-kick on the touchline
Villa weather the West Brom storm as they try to control the pace of the game once more
Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross is just too high for Nigel Reo-Coker as Villa look to extend their lead
Paul Robinson is booked for a tackle on Stiliyan Petrov
The free-kick goes wide from Ashley Young and temperatures are rising on and off the pitch
James Morrison is booked for kicking the ball away as West Brom concede another free-kick
West Brom are back in the game as James Morrison is the first to react to a spilled shot by Brad Friedel to slot the ball home
The home fans and players are shell shocked by Villa's quickfire double
It's all going wrong for West Brom as Gabriel Agbonlahor capitalises on confusion in their defence and rifles home a right-foot shot
Ashley Young's free-kick is headed past Scott Carson by an unmarked John Carew
Aston Villa are trying to play keep ball in the middle of the park in a bid to slow the pace of the game down
John Carew almost reaches a long ball but is beaten to it by Scott Carson
West Brom are playing some good football but Brad Friedel hasn't been troubled since the third minute
West Brom are forced into an early substitution as Chris Brunt is replaced by Kim Do-Heon
There's a brief respite for the teams as Chris Brunt receives some treatment
Villa win their first corner of the game in a spell of pressure from the visitors but it comes to nothing in the end
It's a good game so far, the action swinging from end to end as another West Brom attack is cut out on the edge of the area
John Carew heads just wide from the free-kick in a warning for the Baggies defence
Villa are finding it difficult to break West Brom down but win a free-kick 35 yards out
Good pressure from James Morrison on the right for Albion almost pays off but his cross is just too far ahead of his team-mates
Curtis Davies is winning everything the air at the moment as West Brom launch hopeful balls forward
Villa defend the corner and clear the ball upfield
West Brom win their first corner of the game
The Villa fans are making their voices heard above the noise of the Baggies' fans
West Brom are on the attack again but the cross from the right evades everyone in the area
Jonathan Greening has an early shot but it's easily gathered by Brad Friedel
Neither set of players are getting any time on the ball in a frantic start to the game
West Brom get the game underway in bright sunshine
There's a cracking atmosphere already at The Hawthorns as excitment builds towards kick-off
John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor combined to fire Aston Villa to a derby day success in the high noon showdown against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Carew and Agbonlahor struck in the space of 90 nightmare first-half seconds for Albion as Villa ground out their third away win in just six days - including a UEFA Cup success against Litex Lovech in Bulgaria on Thursday. Albion, who have now lost three of their opening five Premier League games, did give themselves hope when James Morrison reduced the arrears in the 34th minute with his second goal in two games. But the margin of Villa's victory could have been greater as Carew hit the post twice in just two minutes in the second half. Villa's quick one-two to take command of the game was a personal nightmare for Albion central defender Leon Barnett. Barnett had been due to start the game on the bench but Abdoulaye Meite was injured in the warm-up and the former Luton Town defender received a late call-up. He lost track of Carew in the 27th minute when Ashley Young lifted a free-kick into the area and could only stand and stare as the Norway international striker headed home from 12 yards for his fourth goal of the season. Barnett was still reeling from that setback when he inadvertently set-up Agbonlahor's strike just a minute later. Under pressure from Carew, Barnett failed to deal with a long ball up field from Ashley Young and his attempted clearance fell invitingly into the path of England Under-21 international marksman Agbonlahor, who surged into the area before beating Scott Carson from an acute angle. Having taken advantage of two defensive mistakes to take control of the match, it was ironic that Albion were handed a lifeline by an error from Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel. There appeared to be little danger when Albion midfielder Robert Koren let fly from 20 yards. Veteran former America international Friedel got down to save his shot but inexplicably let the ball slip from his grasp and Morrison was on hand to score from six yards. While Friedel was at fault for Morrison's strike, he went some way to making amends on the stroke of half-time with a stunning one-handed save to retain Villa's advantage. Paul Robinson whipped in a left-wing cross and Kim headed goalwards only to see Friedel tip the ball to safety with his left hand. It was a crucial intervention by the former Blackburn Rovers keeper as Albion never seriously tested him again. It was Villa who continued to look the more potent side as Albion struggled to keep Carew in check. Carew was picked out by Nigel Reo-Coker in the 50th minute only to see his angled drive hit the post. Two minutes later, the well-travelled marksman used his height to meet a Luke Young cross only to see his header hit the post. Carson, who spent last season on loan at Villa, then denied Reo-Coker by tipping his 66th minute drive around the post.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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