*Dublin eases Villa discontent*

Dion Dublin’s winner for Aston Villa against Southampton helped relieve some of the growing pressure on club chairman Doug Ellis.

Villa’s angry fans were brandishing ‘Ellis Out’ leaflets before and during the game, but their spirits were lifted with a much-needed three points against Saints.

Dublin struck with an acrobatic overhead kick to secure Villa’s third Premiership win of the campaign and move them out of the bottom three.

It assuaged the air of discontent from the home fans in the lead-up to kick-off as they vented their anger at Ellis with a demonstration outside the ground.

Inside the stadium, the ‘Ellis Out’ leaflets were a familiar sight with supporters unhappy that their chairman not making funds available to strengthen the struggling side.

But, after a slow start, Villa began to impose themselves on the game which lifted the crowd.

Vassell might have done better than shoot straight at Saints keeper Antti Niemi after 20 minutes while the lively Juan Pablo Angel thought he had scored only to be ruled offside.

Angel sent a dipping shot onto the roof of the visitors’ net moments later while Peter Whittingham fired just wide of Niemi’s goal on the half hour mark.

Villa eventually took the lead through Dublin’s second goal of the season.

Dublin scored an overhead kick after Saints striker James Beattie failed to clear Gavin McCann’s corner on the stroke of half time.

Beattie tried to make up for his error after the break but both he and Neil McCann could not connect with the ball as they flung themselves towards Kevin Phillips’ cross.

Dublin was proving an immense figure for Villa as he went close to adding a second, as well as producing a towering performance in the heart of the home defence.

Dublin was determined not to let Saints through even as the visitors played with three in attack for the final 15 minutes with Marian Pahars joining Beattie and Phillips up front.

But Villa held on for a first league win since September.