Stewart Downing scored twice as Aston Villa put a poor first-half
performance behind them to overwhelm Burnley 5-2 at Villa Park on
Sunday.
The Clarets took a shock 10th-minute lead in the Premier
League clash through Steven Fletcher and all Villa could muster
before half-time was a fortuitous equaliser from Ashley Young.
But four goals in 13 minutes after the break from Downing
(two), Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor kept Villa on course for
a Champions League spot before Martin Paterson's late consolation.
In contrast, Burnley have now lost six of their last seven
league games.
It was just the tonic Martin O'Neill's side needed at the
start of a massive week with an FA Cup fifth-round replay against
Crystal Palace on Wednesday and the Carling Cup final next Sunday
against Manchester United at Wembley.
Villa had only scored three goals in their previous seven
league games but still carried too much firepower for Brian Laws'
side, who remain in the bottom three.
Burnley have still only taken one point on their travels and
have now conceded 43 goals in the process.
Fit-again Agbonlahor teed up Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov
for the home side's first chance on the edge of the box but he
dragged his shot well wide.
Then Burnley stunned Villa by taking the lead through
Fletcher's 11th goal of the campaign.
Jack Cork's pass allowed David Nugent to break into the Villa
box and his low centre was turned home at the far post by Fletcher,
who had managed to remain on-side.
It was Burnley's first away league goal in 550 minutes since
Chris Eagles scored in the 5-3 defeat at West Ham on November 28.
Nugent made a powerful burst towards the Villa area and his
shot took a deflection which had goalkeeper Brad Friedel scrambling
across his line before it drifted just wide.
It was 24 minutes before Villa created their first clear-cut
opening.
Downing delivered a probing centre from the right and Heskey
flashed a glancing header only a couple of feet wide of the far
post.
Villa finally drew level after 33 minutes through Ashley
Young's seventh goal of the campaign.
Young played a short corner to Milner, received the return
pass and then cut inside before firing a ball into the box which
clipped Daniel Fox before entering the net with Jensen unsighted.
Jensen then got his hand to a dipping shot from Ashley Young
and the rebound hit Downing but flew wide.
Burnley skipper Clarke Carlisle became the first player to be
booked after 40 minutes for a late challenge on Ashley Young.
Villa took total command after the break and went ahead in
the 56th minute after a quick break down the left involving Heskey
and Agbonlahor.
Ashley Young eventually sent over a low cross and Downing
drilled an angled shot into the corner of the net.
Three minutes later the former Middlesbrough player added
another. Jensen beat out a shot from Agbonlahor but Milner
responded quickest to the rebound, turned the ball back inside to
Downing and his shot deflected past Jensen.
Then in Villa's next attack Heskey got on the scoresheet when
he diverted a low centre from Agbonlahor into the corner of the
net.
Burnley were now in total disarray and after 69 minutes
Agbonlahor completed Villa's nap hand. Heskey found Milner in space
and Agbonlahor prodded the ball home despite being under pressure
from Carlisle.
Agbonlahor and Heskey left the pitch to standing ovations
when replaced by John Carew and Nathan Delfouneso respectively.
Fletcher was yellow-carded shortly afterwards for a foul on
Villa left-back Stephen Warnock.
In a rare Burnley attack Friedel dealt with a well-struck
shot from Eagles but Villa's quickfire scoring burst had decided
the contest.
Clarets substitute Frederic Nimani was booked for deliberate
handball before Carew could have made it 6-1 but he dragged his
close-range shot wide.
In injury-time, Paterson pulled one back for Burnley from
Cork's low centre.
