Dublin's deft finish brings tense Taylor vital victory

Aston Villa 3 Everton

Not all the faded aristocracy spent yesterday clogging the streets of London. Aston Villa and Everton, traditional members of the English game's élite, played to a stadium barely two-thirds full yet produced a surprisingly sprightly contest in which Dion Dublin's 99th Premiership goal proved decisive for Villa.

Dublin's winner, three minutes after his introduction as a late substitute, doubled Villa's tally for the season and ruined Everton's recovery from 2-0 down shortly after half-time. It also relieved the pressure on the Villa manager, Graham Taylor, following the derby débâcle at Birmingham and ensured that the calls for the head of the chairman, Doug Ellis, stuck in the throats of the Holte End.

Victory lifted Villa into mid-table, above both their city rivals and West Bromwich Albion, even if the banner proclaiming them "The Pride of Birmingham" seemed depressingly parochial for a club with their history and potential. This, however, was an afternoon for atoning for the sins of St Andrew's or, in the case of Lee Hendrie, for making a point about his omission from that match.

Hendrie struck with great aplomb early in either half only for Everton, spurred on Thomas Gravesen and Li Tie, to establish parity with goals by Tomasz Radzinski and Kevin Campbell. But then came Dublin, whom Taylor allowed to join Millwall on loan after he took over last season, and the 33-year-old former England striker obliged with a precious, predatory goal.

"Having lost a two-goal lead at home, after we'd just lost to our local rivals, our supporters weren't going to be happy," Taylor said. "We looked as if we might buckle again, but I was very pleased with the response." His opposite number, David Moyes, felt Everton became "carried away" after equalising. "We lost to a set-piece," the Scot added, "and that's very disappointing."

The cheer which greeted Peter Enckelman before the start indicated that the Villa faithful were prepared to forgive if not to forget the Finn's infamous aberration last Monday. The mood quickly became semi-festive after Hendrie combined with Ulises De La Cruz and Darius Vassell before chipping the ball over Richard Wright from just inside the Everton area.

Wright saved at full stretch from Gareth Barry's 25-yard drive but was helpless when Villa doubled their lead. De La Cruz's cross was headed back to Hendrie, who volleyed high into the net from a position just right of the penalty spot.

A first Everton success in 15 visits to Villa Park seemed a remote prospect, but by the midway point in the second half they looked the likelier winners. Gravesen created their first goal, his run across the face of the area being followed by a deft pass to Radzinski, who turned sharply before firing past Enckelman.

"Finland's No 1", as the Villa fans somewhat dubiously hailed their keeper, saved superbly from Campbell's header in the 65th minute. However, when Gravesen's corner found Campbell rising among a cluster of claret and blue shirts at the near post, the muscular target man glanced in his fourth goal of the season.

Enckelman almost turned goal-maker with nine minutes remaining after his kick-out cleared Alan Stubbs. Vassell headed wide, but a late Villa flurry produced a corner kick taken by Mark Kinsella and headed on by Olof Mellberg. Despite the six-yard box being as congested as the hunting-and-fishing march in the Mall, Dublin had time to chest the ball down and swivel to shoot home.

Goals: Hendrie (7) 1-0; Hendrie (48) 2-0; Radzinski (51) 2-1; Campbell (66) 2-2; Dublin (85) 3-2.

Aston Villa (3-5-2): Enckelman 6; Mellberg 6, Johnsen 7, Staunton 6; De La Cruz 6, Leonhardsen, 76), Hendrie 7, Kinsella 5, Barry 6, Samuel 7; Vassell 5 (S Moore, 82), Crouch 4 (Dublin, 82). Substitutes not used: Angel, Postma (gk).

Everton (4-3-3): Wright 6; Hibbert 6, Weir 6, Stubbs 6, Unsworth 5; Gravesen 7, Li Tie 7, Pembridge 5; Rooney 6 (Alexandersson, 77), Campbell 6, Radzinski 6. Substitutes not used: Naysmith, Li Wei Feng, Linderoth, Gerrard (gk).

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland) 7.

Bookings: Everton: Rooney.

Man of the match: Hendrie.

Attendance: 30,023.