Premier League: Aston Villa 1 Everton 3

Everton continued their impressive start to the Premier League season with a dominant 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa.

Despite not having won at Villa Park since 2005, a stunning opening goal from Steven Pienaar, a powerful header from Marouane Fellaini and a characteristic first-time finish from Nikica Jelavic seemingly put Everton out of sight before the break.

With a quarter of an hour to go, new Moroccan midfielder Karim El Ahmadi claimed a consolation goal for the hosts, but Everton ran out deserved winners.

The match got off to a blistering start, with Pienaar putting Everton ahead in the opening minutes as he curled the ball past Shay Given from 25 yards out.

Everton remained in command for the opening quarter of an hour, with Paul Lambert’s men not quite getting over the shock of going down so early. However the home side grew into the game and soon showed more intent.

Despite earning more possession, it was the Toffees who once again threatened to further their lead, with Darron Gibson attempting a looping volley from 30 yards that flew close over the bar.

Everton continued their dominance of the game, and just after the half-hour mark, Fellaini consolidated his side’s lead with a powerful header. The central midfielder rose above the Villa defence to meet Phill Jagielka’s cross with a commanding header past Given.

The visitors increased their lead just before half-time when Leighton Baines pulled the ball back perfectly to Jelavic on the edge of the six-yard box, with the Croatian placing one of his trademark one-touch finishes into the back of the net.

Everton began the second half as strongly as they finished the first, with Jelavic threatening Given’s goal early after the break, but a brave Nathan Baker block sent the ball out for a corner.

Aston Villa enjoyed a short spell of pressure five minutes into the half, and threatened with a low drilled Matthew Lowton cross, before Barry Bannan had two attempts on goal blocked by the Everton defence.

In the 58th minute, Gibson performed the pass of the match to put Jelavic through on goal, however Ciaran Clark brought down the striker, and was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The hosts’ afternoon almost got worse when Sylvan Distin got on the end of a beautiful corner, but luckily striker Darren Bent was on the line to head the ball away.

With 15 minutes to go, new signing El Ahmadi drove at the Everton defence through the middle of the park, and from 30 yards hit a forceful shot which Tim Howard could not parry.

Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas almost had his dream start when he got on the end of wonderful Seamus Coleman cross in the 87th minute, but the attacker had drifted half a yard offside and the goal was disallowed.

Aston Villa almost scored in the last minute of the match when Andreas Weimann’s thumping shot hit the post, and Darren Bent almost scored from the rebound but for Baines’ block.