Carew keeps Aston Villa on course

John Carew’s goal kept Aston Villa in the hunt for Champions League football next season with a 1-0 win at home to Stoke City here on Saturday.

Norway striker Carew, on as a substitute, settled the match just after the hour mark when he headed in Ashley Young’s cross.

Stoke created few chances but were furious when a first-half effort from Mamady Sidabe was disallowed for a push on Stephen Warnock.

This was Villa’s fourth straight Premier League win and saw them stay among the top flight’s leading quartet, with Martin O’Neill’s men now unbeaten in seven games.

Villa made a bright start and Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had to make a double save to deny Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

But the hosts suffered a setback when England striker Emile Heskey had to go off injured following a challenge with Danny Higginbotham, Carew taking the forward’s place.

Tuncay Sanli almost unlocked the Villa defence but the Birmingham club held firm and then won the match with a goal of the utmost simplicity as Carew got on the end of Young’s cross from the right to head powerfully past Sorensen.