Harewood ensures Villa progress

Marlon Harewood struck his first goal of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the group stages of the UEFA Cup with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Litex Lovech.

The former West Ham striker broke the deadlock after 27 minutes only for the visitors to make it 1-1 shortly after the break through a controversial penalty from Wilfred Niflore.

But Villa were always in command and are now guaranteed at least four more matches in the competition in which they previously participated in 2001.

Given the scoreline from the first leg, the game struggled to attain any great intensity, with Villa always having the insurance from events in Bulgaria a fortnight ago to fall back on.

Ashley Young was given a free role just behind Harewood in a 4-4-1-1 formation as Villa made a positive start in the driving rain.

Young drilled a long-range effort over the bar before Harewood's first goal of the campaign arrived. Brad Friedel's long clearance was flicked on by Young into the path of Harewood who needed no second invitation to show his pace and clinical finishing.

He shook off the challenge of Plamen Nikolov before hammering a fierce shot across Todor Todorov and into the corner of the net to stretch Villa's aggregate lead to 4-1.

Litex coach Stanimir Stoilov made a half-time substitution, bringing on Momchil Tzvetanov for Plamen Nikolov. And after 53 minutes the Bulgarians were back on level terms thanks to a controversial penalty.

Brazil-born midfielder Carlos Tome Dudu made a powerful run into the Villa box before going down after being challenged by Carlos Cuellar, but replays showed the former Rangers player had got a toe-end to the ball.

Up stepped Niflore to send Friedel the wrong way from the spot and level the match on the night.