Aston Villa edge Slavia 1-0 in UEFA Cup

Aston Villa beat Czech side Slavia Prague 1-0 in a UEFA Cup tie here on Thursday to move top of Group F with six points from two matches.

Steve Sidwell scored 26 minutes into the game with a low shot deflected by John Carew and Slavia skipper Marek Suchy to put the Premier League side ahead.

Ashley Young hit the post from a free kick two minutes later and Carew then forced a spectacular save from Slavia keeper Martin Vaniak with a low shot as Slavia struggled to produce a decent pass.

“We were really great in the first half. Maybe we could have scored more goals,” Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill said after the match.

The home side put Aston Villa under pressure in the second half, but Jaroslav Cerny blasted his shot from close range into Villa keeper Bradley Guzan who also caught a Tomas Necid header.

“I think we deserved to win,” said O'Neill, who had left first-pick keeper Brad Friedel, captain Martin Laursen and England man Gareth Barry on the bench.

Looking at the situation in the group, O'Neill said, “I believe now that seven points will definitely get us through” to the play-off stage scheduled for next spring.