Aston Villa 2 Everton 0:Everton may have started the season like an elite sprinter but the spring has quickly gone from their step. Only goal difference separates these two sides in the league table this morning but Aston Villa's merited victory, secured when Gabriel Agbonlahor scored a splendid second, provided further evidence to support the belief that, for the moment at least, these clubs are moving in opposite directions.

It is now three wins from four for Villa as they exposed the fragile confidence in an Everton side who have recorded only one victory since collecting maximum points from their opening two fixtures.

Everton were abject before the interval and only marginally better after it. The sight of Andy Johnson being withdrawn, midway through the second half, summed up their misery. Six months and 16 matches have now passed since he last scored, with the forward's contribution here including only one shot on target. His team-mates fared little better, the lack of conviction in their play alarming at times. David Moyes admitted to being "very concerned" by his team's failure to keep a clean sheet this term.

Villa are not exactly potent in front of goal but Everton's lethargy served as an invitation for the home team to take control, with Gareth Barry seizing the opportunity to dictate play. Rarely giving the ball away and showing considerably more creativity than Everton's central duo of Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville, the Villa captain was the most accomplished player on show.

In truth he did not have much competition until Agbonlahor provided another moment to celebrate in a burgeoning career. Scott Carson's punt forward was no more than hopeful but, with the Everton defence slow to push up, Agbonlahor showed a combination of pace, technique and confidence to tear away from the visitors' rearguard, cushion the high ball and dispatch a crisp shot under Stefan Wessels to double Villa's lead.

Villa's second arrived after Agbonlahor, who had already been denied when his header was cleared off the line by Tony Hibbert in the 45th minute, was moved to centre-forward, the change enforced after John Carew limped off with knee ligament damage. Carew, who had earlier scored his first of the season, will have a scan today to determine the damage.