Aston Villa chalked up their first points in six league games today thanks to a superb show from England Under-21s striker Darius Vassell.

There was nothing but relief in the Villa camp at the end, but Bradford were a picture of misery.

They remain rooted to the foot of the Premiership after failing to score for the fifth successive match.

First Division football is drawing ever closer, and they could not handle the pace and scoring instinct of Vassell.

Bradford, however, began brightly.

Peter Atherton played a cross-field ball into the path of fit-again David Hopkin in the third minute - and his 20-yard shot tested goalkeeper David James.

Villa pushed forward, and Mark Delaney delivered a fine cross from the right. But Lee Hendrie steered his effort wide.

Dean Windass should have put Bradford ahead after eight minutes with the visitors' defence caught napping.

Eion Jess played in a deep free-kick, and Windass got clear of his marker only to find the wrong side of the post with his close-range header.

Windass featured prominently in the opening stages, and it needed a timely tackle from Alpay in the 13th minute to prevent him from scoring.

Bradford were looking quite bright, and Jess fired a 20-yard shot narrowly wide of the post after being set up by Billy McKinlay.

Hendrie was then left on the floor in the penalty area after McKinlay took his legs from under him.

It was a challenge that incensed the Villa players and led to the Scottish midfielder being booked.

As half-time approached Villa were coming more and more into the game and having the majority of possession.

Alpay, however - under pressure from Robbie Blake - almost turned a cross from Hopkin into hit own net, the ball drifting marginally wide.

Villa were forced to make a change a minute before the break when Gareth Barry was carried off after falling badly. He was replaced by Ian Taylor.

Villa made the breakthrough after 50 minutes when Vassell scored a marvellous opener.

Juan Pablo Angel, a £9.5million buy from River Plate, showed superb technique to lay the ball into the young striker's path - and he delivered a blistering shot beyond goalkeeper Gary Walsh.

Jess tried to rally Bradford and raced forward. But goalkeeper James was equal to his 20-yard effort.

Villa were growing in confidence. Angel got clear at the back post when Steve Staunton sent in a free-kick, but his header drifted wide.

Vassell added his second goal of the game in the 58th minute with another clinical finish following a neat build-up with Angel again involved.

Villa looked a different side to the one that had played so poorly before the break.

Vassell was desperate to complete his hat-trick but squandered a number of chances of completing that milestone in the latter stages of the game.

Substitute Julian Joachim completed a comfortable victory for Villa in the 87th minute, curling a shot beyond Walsh after Hendrie had played the ball through.

Teams:

Bradford Walsh, Atherton, Jacobs (Beagrie 56), Molenaar, O'Brien, McKinlay, McCall, Hopkin (Ward 70), Windass, Jess, Blake.

Subs Not Used: Davison, Myers, Locke.

Booked: McKinlay, Windass.

Aston Villa James, Delaney, Wright, Staunton, Alpay, Barry (Taylor 45), Boateng, Hendrie, Angel (Joachim 75), Merson (McGrath 89), Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Ginola, Enckelman.

Goals: Vassell 50, 58, Joachim 87.

Att: 19,591

Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).