A late strike from Dion Dublin gave Aston Villa a much needed three points and a 3-2 victory over Everton at Villa Park. Villa manager Graham Taylor made three changes to the team beaten 3-0 in the Birmingham derby with Vassell, Crouch and Hendrie all promoted to the starting line-up. Toffees manager David Moyes gave a second Premiership start to Wayne Rooney, the striker only 16-years-old, and Richard Wright back in goal.
Both teams began with caution in the opening stages but it was the visitors who made their mark on the match first. The youngest player on the pitch, Rooney made his mark on former Irish international Steve Staunton after four minutes. Both jumped for a high ball but it was the Villa defender who was left bleeding from a cut to his eye.
The opening goal came after only seven minutes when England international midfielder Lee Hendrie scored a cracking goal with help from Ulises de la Cruz and Darius Vassell. The home side should have doubled their lead after De La Cruz found Gareth Barry but his shot was well saved by Wright in the Everton goal.
Everton nearly equalised through striker Kevin Campbell after a fine pass from Chinese midfielder Li Tie. But his effort on goal went well wide as the game began to draw into a period of stalemate. The Toffees had another chance to score when Rooney ran at Ronny Johnsen but Villa's last man robbed the young striker with a perfectly timed tackle and Villa went in at half time 1-0 ahead.
Half-Time:Aston Villa 1-0 Everton.
Villa secured a tighter hold on the match after three minutes of the second half when Hendrie volleyed in past Wright. The midfielder hammered the ball unerringly past the former Arsenal keeper after fine work from De La Cruz and Barry.
But Villa's lead did not last long as Thomas Gravesen jinked his way to the edge of the Villa box and back-heeled the ball to Tomas Radzinski. He fired through Mark Kinsella's legs and low past Enckelman to haul Everton back into the game.
Everton were back in the match and Tie's lovely turn earned him a shooting chance but the Villa keeper made a good save. But it was the visitors who looked livelier as they continued to look for the equaliser. That equaliser came after 66 minutes when a Gravesen corner met the head of Kevin Campbell to flick home.
Villa nearly went back in front after a poor mistake from Blues defender David Weir let Vassell clear on goal. The England striker shot low across Wright but his sprawling stop was first class and kept the home side at bay. A second defensive blunder by the visitors' minutes later saw Vassell go one on one with Wright. This time the Villa striker headed over the keeper but he ball bounced wide.
But with only five minutes remaining substitute Dion Dublin punished Everton and secured all three points for Graham Taylor's side. Republic of Ireland midfielder Mark Kinsella's corner was headed down by defender Olof Mellberg and Dublin hooked home from only five yards out.
Final Score: Aston Villa 3-2 Everton.
Filed by James Shortt
