Villa too much for Baggies

12 April 2012

John Carew tormented the West Brom defence as Aston Villa registered a 2-1 away win, their third in six days, and continued their surge up the Premier league table.

The Norwegian international scored once but could have finished with a hat-trick after twice being denied by the woodwork.

Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor struck twice in the space of 90 seconds during the first half and the Baggies could only muster a James Morrison goal in reply after a Brad Friedel error.

Villa were well worth their win and are showing they now have the strength in depth to cope with a Barclays Premier League and UEFA Cup campaign.

Albion's vulnerability at free-kicks was finally exposed when Ashley Young's 27th-minute free-kick was met by Carew - and the Norwegian international's header beat Scott Carson via the post for his fourth goal of the campaign.

West Brom had not had time to recover from this setback before they fell further behind through Agbonlahor's fifth goal of the season.

Leon Barnett was at fault in miscontrolling an Ashley Young pass which broke into the path of Agbonlahor and he drilled his shot across Carson from a narrow angle into the corner of the net.

Morrison handed Albion a life-line in the 34th-minute with his second goal in as many games.

Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel was at fault in failing to hold onto a low 20 yard hit from Robert Koren - and Morrison was alert to tuck in the rebound.

But it was not enough for Tony Mowbray's side who failed to create enough second-half opportunities to trouble a tiring Villa side.

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