Despite a flu epidemic affecting the club, Villa field a dosed up side and deliver their fifth win in seven unbeaten games. Some of the Villa Park crowd however showed little appreciation of the effort needed to muster victory in trying circumstances. Nevertheless a Peter Withe brace sees off Palace despite a disputed free kick giving the Londoners a late lifeline. Villa sit second in the table two points off Ipswich and six ahead of Liverpool (who have played a game more) as the Suffolk side play their games in hand.