By DPA,
London : Aston Villa climbed back to fifth in the English Premier League as they beat Everton 3-2 thanks to a brace and an injury-time winner from Ashley Young.
It had seemed that Everton had rescued a point with Joleon Lescott’s second equaliser – also in injury-time – but presented with one more opportunity, Young finished emphatically.
Steve Sidwell had given Villa the lead after 34 seconds, before Lescott levelled.
A terrible error from Phil Jagielka presented Young with his first, before the late, late drama.
The defeat means Everton have still won only one home league game this season.
Villa have wobbled of late, winning just one of their previous five games, but they could hardly have got off to a better start.
Mikel Arteta was caught in possession by Luke Young, and when James Milner touched off his forward pass, Sidwell shot a 22-metre drive into the top corner.
Everton, though, responded well, and had had a number of half-chances before they equalized on the half-hour from a free-kick needlessly conceded by Carlos Cuellar.
Arteta’s delivery from the left was flicked on by Leon Osman, leaving Lescott to stab past goalkeeper Brad Friedel from close range.
The former United States international made a stunning save early in the second half to divert – albeit inadvertently – a Marouane Fellaini header against the bar.
Everton seemed well on top but nine minutes into the second half Jagielka turned blind and his misplaced backpass let in Young.
Two minutes into injury-time, Jagielka seemed to have gained some redemption, his header back into the middle being touched on by Tim Cahill for Lescott to hook in.
But then Young seized on a loose ball, prodded it past Lescott, ran on the other side and slid the ball under Tim Howard.
West Bromwich Albion ended a run of four straight defeats as they drew 1-1 against Portsmouth in the day’s other game. Jonathan Greening put West Brom ahead in the first half, knocking in the rebound after Chris Brunt’s free-kick had smacked the bar. But Peter Crouch equalised after half-time with a deflected drive from 25 yards.