Barclays Premier League: West Brom beat Villa for the first time in 26 years

Villa took a fourth-minute lead thanks to West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite, who somehow managed to deflect in Stewart Downing's right-wing cross.

Meite's mishap means West Brom are now 33 Premier League games without a clean sheet, but they equalised through Peter Odemwingie in the 60th minute.

The Nigeria international latched onto the ball after Villa failed to deal with James Morrison's free-kick to score his 14th of the season.

West Brom, though, were soon down to ten men after Paul Scharner was sent off for a second yellow card for tripping Stiliyan Petrov.

Despite the sending off, the Baggies secured victory with a breakaway attack that allowed Youssouf Mulumbu to fire home the decider.

Elsewhere, Blackburn secured a vital 1-0 victory at home to Lancashire rivals Bolton.

Having started the game at a high tempo, Steve Kean's side took a 20th minute lead through Martin Olsson.

Bolton's failure to clear their lines allowed Michel Salgado to roll the ball across the edge of the box for Olsson to lash home.

Leighton Baines' late penalty helped atone for Mikel Arteta's earlier saved effort as Everton secured a 1-1 draw at Wigan.

The Latics took a 21st-minute lead through midfielder Charles N'Zogbia after he curled a left-footed effort.

The France international almost went from hero to zero, though, in the 36th minute as he foolishly scythed down Leon Osman in the box to give away a penalty.

Arteta stepped up to take the spot kick but Ali Al Habsi comfortably saved the Spaniard's placed effort.

However, Baines saved Arteta's blushes with 12 minutes remaining with his own penalty.

Hugo Rodallega was penalised for handball in the box and the left back stepped up to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

Meanwhile, Fulham overcame their usual troubles on the road in some style as they thrashed Sunderland 3-0 at the Stadium of Light.

The west Londoners grabbed a 33rd-minute lead in the north east through French loanee Gael Kakuta.

The Chelsea man stumbled past a couple of defenders before netting his first goal in English football with a tidy low finish.

After the break Sunderland's profligacy in attack was punished at the other end by Simon Davies, whose brace wrapped up a superb victory for the Cottagers.

Finally, Ian Holloway's Blackpool side secured what could prove to be a vital point in the relegation run-in as they held FA Cup finalists Stoke to a 0-0 draw at Bloomfield Road.

The Seasiders went into the game looking to give their survival bid a major boost but could not make a breakthrough against the Potters, for whom Kenwyne Jones missed the best chance of the game when he rounded goalkeeper Matt Gilks but shot wide in first-half stoppage time.

Glenn Whelan also went close for the visitors, while Asmir Begovic did well to deny Matt Phillips from close range.