Birmingham, Jan 10: Aston Villa climbed into third place of the Premier League by edging past local rival West Bromwich Albion 2-1 here on Saturday.

Curtis Davies put Villa ahead in the 19th minute and West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson deflected Gabriel Agbonlahor’s off-target shot into his own goal just before the break. James Morrison managed to pull one back for the last-place Baggies in the 49th, but Villa clung to its slender lead to go within one point of second-place Chelsea, which plays Sunday at Manchester United.

Leader Liverpool was in action later Saturday at Stoke — a day after manager Rafa Benitez launched a scripted, five-minute outburst against United manager Alex Ferguson.

Frozen pitches forced the postponement of two Premier League matches Saturday —Portsmouth-Manchester City and Fulham-Blackburn — while much of the lower-league program was wiped out.

Looking for a first win at Villa Park in 30 years, West Brom made a promising start, but the domination produced nothing before the home side found the net after 19 minutes with its first threatening advance.

After meeting a corner from Gareth Barry, Steve Sidwell had two headers cleared off the line —– by Morrison and Jonathan Greening –– before the ball eventually fell back to Barry on the right flank. The Villa captain whipped in a cross for Curtis Davies to nod past former West Brom team-mate Scott Carson for his first goal of the season.

Villa looked more dangerous after gaining the advantage and the blunder by Carson gave Martin O’Neill’s side another goal before the break.

From the halfway line, Barry released Agbonlahor and the England striker raced down the left and cut into the penalty area unchallenged despite five West Brom players in proximity and not a single attacking man in support.

From a narrow angle, Agbonlahor slotted across goal, but the ball was headed wide until Carson managed to deflect it under his left arm and over the line.

Morrison ensured it would be a competitive second period by making it 2-1 four minutes after the break.

West Brom’s leading scorer Roman Bednar, who had replaced Luke Moore, headed down to Morrison and the Scotland midfielder turned Martin Laursen before sending a shot past Brad Friedel, helped by a slight deflection off Davies.

West Brom had two penalty claims dismissed in stoppage time when Bednar was held off by Luke Young and Ashley Young clipped Slovenian Robert Koren.

“I think there was a decent shout for penalties twice,” West Brom manager Tony Mowbray said.—Agencies