Former Liverpool striker Baros had unsurprisingly been constantly booed by the visiting fans because of his past Anfield connections.

But they felt a sense of injustice when the Czech Republic international used his hand to control a cross from Gareth Barry before tucking away the opening goal after 36 minutes.

Baros could find himself in hot water with he Football Association after racing off behind the goal to cup his hand to his ear in the direction of the Everton fans situated in the lower tier of the North Stand.

But that will not worry him or Villa in the short term as they moved further away from the relegation zone but left Moyes to reflect on a third successive defeat.

Villa cashed in on their good fortune to deadly effect with Mark Delaney, Juan Pablo Angel and Baros again netting in a one-sided second period.

It was a fitting send-off for Villa chairman Doug Ellis if, as expected, he relinquishes control of the club in the next few days.

Villa started brightly and recalled striker Luke Moore came close to breaking the deadlock after five minutes after his persistence had enabled him to race onto a long clearance from Thomas Sorensen.

He lobbed the ball over the advancing Nigel Martyn but it drifted just past the post much to the relief of the recalled Everton keeper.

Villa did most of the early attacking and a finely-weighted pass from Steven Davis played in Baros.

Czech Republic striker Baros took the ball in his stride and looked favourite to score but he over-ran it and Martyn was able to block his final toe-poke.

Everton retaliated and James Beattie, a target for Villa before being signed by Everton from Southampton for £6million 11 months ago, forced a corner when Sorensen tipped a dipping effort around the post.

The visitors came more into the game and Beattie will feel he should have done better with a glancing header which flew over the bar after he had attacked an inswinging centre from Mikel Arteta.

Everton failed to defend a Barry corner which found its way to Baros at the far post but he was unable to keep down his overhead kick.

Villa then went ahead in controversial fashion after 36 minutes through Baros when the striker and central-back Liam Ridgewell both appeared to handle the ball.

Ridgewell initially looked to use his arm to bring the ball under control on the edge of the Everton box before it bounced off his chest into the path of Barry.

He pumped a hopeful lob into the box and Baros used his hand to bring the ball under control and take it way from Everton defender Per Kroldrup before poking his shot past Martyn for his third league goal of the season.

The Everton players reacted furiously but referee Mike Riley had no hesitation in pointing to the centre circle and the Villa players could hardly believe their good fortune.

Villa started the second half in positive fashion and after 48 minutes Delaney doubled their lead with only his second Premiership goal in seven years at the club.

But David Moyes will be furious at his defence who allowed the Wales international to run unopposed to the near post to meet James Milner’s cross and flick the ball over Martyn into the far corner of the net.

Delaney’s only other league goal for Villa had been when he grabbed the winner in a 1-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road in August 1999.

Baros had a pile-driver blocked after Barry had turned the ball back across goal but Sorensen did well to block a close-range attempt from Kevin Phillips to deny Everton a foothold back in the game.

Moyes brought on Duncan Ferguson for Tim Cahill with nine minutes remaining but Angel sealed victory for Villa when he tucked away a pass from Baros.

The cheering had hardly died down before Baros struck for the second time in the game when turning in Aaron Hughes’s low cross.