DWIGHT Yorke struck two goals, one a beauty, the other a gift to put Aston Villa back on top of the Premier League and inflict only the second defeat on Sheffield Wednesday in 22 matches.

Villa, now two points clear at the top, had the edge in a splendid all-action first half which began with Yorke finishing off a superb five-man move after just two minutes, before Dean Saunders forced Chris Woods into a hat-trick of stunning saves just befbre the break as Ron Atkinson's title-chasing team took charge against his former club.

A careless error by Wednesday's Swedish fullback Roland Nilsson gifted Yorke his second goal ten minutes after the interval and Villa never looked back.

Dean Saunders though had no luck. It was his clever back-heel that set up the opener for Yorke but in a seven-minute spell before half-time he clipped the crossbar, then brought a stunning double save out of keeper Woods.

Then he connected with a powerful header from Garry Parker's cross only to see the Wood go full length to turn it away.

But Nilsson's blunder, giving the ball away to the grateful Yorke on 55 minutes when he had plenty of time to clear, finally killed off Wednesday.

Villa, with Parker and Kevin Richardson outstanding in midfield, were well in control before the finish and centre half Paul McGrath was able to cruise through the second half despite blood seeping from a head wound after a clash with Bright.

Villa boss Ron Atkinson said: “It was an excellent performance especially considering who we were playing.”