Aston Villa v Everton: first half report
Aston Villa 1 Everton 0
A superb strike from Luke Young has given Aston Villa a 1-0 half time lead against Everton at Villa Park.
The hosts took the lead on the eighth minute when Ashley Young assisted his namesake, Luke, for the opening goal of the match.
Marouane Fellaini's mistake allowed the Villa winger to pick up the ball, and his intelligent pass was dispatched with aplomb by the full-back past Tim Howard in the Everton net to give Kevin MacDonald's side a precious lead.
Steven Pienaar came agonisingly close to scoring an equaliser for the visitors 10 minutes later, but his fabulous curling effort from just inside the box crashed into Brad Friedel's crossbar and away to safety.
Everton continued to pile-on the pressure and looked the more likely to grab the second goal of the match.
Villa have defended well, though, reducing their opponent's clear-cut chances. It's been a huge improvement on the display away at Newcastle United last weekend, where they found themselves on the receiving end of a 6-0 hammering.
At the end of the half, Villa felt they should have had a penalty when Pienaar appeared to make contact with Marc Albrighton. But referee, Mike Jones, rightfully waved play on.