EPL: Aston Villa v Everton (23.09)

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Everton are sweating on the fitness of Mikel Arteta for Sunday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa.

The Toffees go back on the road after a couple of disappointing results at Goodison Park, including Thursday's 1-1 draw with Metalist in the Uefa Cup.

Andy Johnson missed two penalties in that match as he searches for his first goal since scoring the winner against Arsenal in mid-March.

There were suggestions Johnson could have been dropped against Metalist, but he started alongside new signing Yakubu Aiyegbeni and the partnership should remain intact at Villa.

But one player who is struggling to feature in the Midlands is Arteta, who missed the Metalist draw with a foot injury.

Moyes is hoping the Spanish midfielder will be fit, with James McFadden likely to keep his place if Arteta does not make it.

Lee Carsley replaced Phil Jagielka in midfield against Metalist after being tested for last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Thomas Gravesen remains doubtful with a knee injury, while Tim Howard's broken finger means Stefan Wessels should continue in goal.

Unchanged

Villa will look to return to the form which accounted for Chelsea in their last home game, having lost 1-0 at Manchester City last week.

John Carew was out of sorts in front of goal at City, but is likely to be given the opportunity to redeem himself as he chases his first goal of the season.

With Thomas Sorensen still injured, Scott Carson will be in goal, while Curtis Davies is hoping to make his Villa debut.

However, Martin Laursen and Zat Knight have formed a steady partnership, so Davies may have to be content with a place on the bench.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill could name an unchanged team for the third Premier League game in a row, with Marlon Harewood out injured.

Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Aston Villa Team:
Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Moore, Carew

Everton Team:
Wessels, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Pienaar, Jagielka, Neville, Osman, Anichebe, Johnson

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Toffees come unstuck at Villa

Aston Villa piled the misery on Everton with a deserved 2-0 win at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

Goals in each half from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor were enough to give Martin O'Neill's men all three points.

Carew broke the deadlock after 14 minutes with his first goal of the season after Leighton Baines failed to clear his lines.

Agbonlahor doubled the lead on the hour mark with a superb solo goal to get Villa back to winning ways.

Villa did not fire on all cylinders but the pace of Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, the power of Carew before he was injured, the midfield guile of Gareth Barry and Nigel Reo-Coker and the defensive strength of Martin Laursen gave them the edge.

Young attempted the first effort on goal for Villa but his 25-yard drive set the tone for a generally mediocre first half as it flew high and wide.

Opener

But after 13 minutes Villa broke the deadlock through Carew's first goal of the campaign.

Wilfred Bouma's left-wing cross was headed straight up in the air by Joseph Yobo and then Baines only succeeded in clearing the ball straight to Carew, who steadied himself before firing a low shot past Stefan Wessels.

Agbonlahor had the ball in the net again four minutes later but Young's cross was adjudged to have curled out of play before finding his England Under 21 team-mate.

Andy Johnson made a telling break down the right flank after Phil Jagielka's pass over the top of the Villa defence but his low centre was cut out by Scott Carson who was being watched by England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence.

Johnson's trickery won him a free-kick just outside the Villa box after being upended by Zat Knight but Leon Osman crashed his low shot straight into the Villa defensive wall.

Rescue

In first half injury-time Tony Hibbert came to Everton's rescue when he cleared Agbonlahor's header off the line after Wessels had failed to deal with a Young corner.

Reo-Coker presented Everton with a chance early in the second half to get back on level terms when he brought down Jagielka on the edge of the Villa box.

Up stepped Johnson to curl the free-kick around the defensive wall - but Carson was alert to the situation and had his body right behind the shot.

Johnson had his first clear-cut chance after 52 minutes but he mis-hit his shot just past the post from a knockdown by Victor Anichebe.

O'Neill was forced to make a change after 52 minutes when Carew limped out of the action to be replaced by Craig Gardner.

Doubled the lead

It led to Agbonlahor being pushed up front - and after 62 minutes he showed great control to double Villa's lead with his third goal in four matches against Everton.

Carson's long clearance over the Everton defence was brought down with one touch by Agbonlahor - and his second slid the ball wide of the dive of Wessels.

Moyes brought on Yakubu for the final 20 minutes, but Everton never threatened to force their way back into the match, while Agbonlahor and team-mate Marlon Harewood exchanged words at the final whistle.

Skysports

[Buddha14]

Is that John Carew's first goal for Villa?

[andy villa]

first this season....

hes scored 4 for us since he arrived...

the result was good for us as everton are a good side and a club we are competing with in that mini league...