David Unsworth got the goal for Everton following Dion Dublin's second minute strike.

Dublin was recalled to the side after being rested for the draw with West Ham and he broke the deadlock in Villa’s first attack against the Merseysiders.

Full-back Alan Wright sent in a low ball which Ian Taylor allowed to run into the path of Dublin, who got past the challenge of Alessandro Pistone before driving a low shot past Everton keeper Paul Gerrard.

It was the third successive game in which he had started that Dublin has been on target for John Gregory’s side and took his goal tally to eight for the season.