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Curtis Davies’ header and a Scott Carson own goal were enough for Aston Villa to secure victory in the Midlands derby with West Brom.

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Davies returned to haunt his old club by stooping to nod Villa in front from Gareth Barry’s right-wing cross against the run of play.

Villa doubled their lead when Carson let a low cross from Gabriel Agbonlahor squirm under his body and into the net.

James Morrison pulled one back but West Brom rarely looked like equalising.

Villa went into the first Premier League game of 2009 knowing that victory would take them into back into the top three until at least after Manchester United’s clash with Chelsea on Sunday.

But despite their lowly league position it was West Brom who started the brighter only to fail to make the most of their early possession.

Borja Valero wasted the game’s first opening, curling a shot high and wide from 15 yards following a Jonathan Greening corner.

Robert Koren then burst on to a Jay Simpson pass but was frustrated to see a deflected shot held by Brad Friedel.