The blossoming partnership between Jason Euell and Carl Leaburn plunged Villa
deeper into the relegation mire at Selhurst Park.
First-half strikes from the bargain duo set the Dons on their way to a vital
Premiership victory in front of just 13,131 fans.
And although the visitors threatened to take a point back up to the Midlands
after Savo Milosevic's deflected effort, Wimbledon hung on to leapfrog their
opponents in the table.
The two sides had been separated by just one point and one place before
kick-off with one win in each of their last six games.
But after Euell's seventh of the season and Leaburn's third in two games,
Wimbledon pulled two points clear to leave Brian Little's men worriedly looking
over their shoulders at the bottom three.
The few hundred hardy souls who made the journey down from the Midlands saw
their side make a confident start with plenty of controlled passing.
But the more direct football of the home side was always more likely to get
results and Wimbledon deservedly took the lead after nine minutes.
Vinnie Jones' first attempt at a cross was blocked by Alan Wright but at the
second time of asking the Welsh international whipped in a dangerous lowcross
towards the near post.
Bosnich should perhaps have come to collect but thought better of it asLeaburn
closed in, and the ball broke to Euell who had the simple task of stabbing home
from a few yards.
That was somewhat harsh on the visitors who had played some neat, attractive
football in the opening period.
Too often though the final ball was poor and they were reduced to shooting
from distance, Collymore blasting over after sidestepping Peter Fear
andMilosevic's effort troubling only the corner flag.
Wimbledon had made two changes from the team held 1-1 in the FA Cup fifth
round by Wolves last week, Marcus Gayle returning from international duty to
replace Stewart Castledine and Carl Leaburn restored up front after being cup
tied.
Villa boss Brian Little had kept faith with the side that lost 2-0 at home to
champions Manchester United in midweek.
Gareth Southgate had passed a fitness test before the game but the England
international was being given a more rigorous test by Leaburn.
He was proving to be a real handful in the air the former Charlton striker
flicking Neal Ardley's corner across the face of goal and Euell just failed to
get a touch at the far post to deflect it past Bosnich.
Villa continued to play some attractive football however and were almost
rewarded for their efforts on 19 minutes.
Alan Wright's corner came out to Milosevic on the far side of the area but his
shot, on his weaker right foot, failed to trouble Dons keeper Neil Sullivan.
Jones' voice could be clearly heard echoing around the empty seats as
theskipper barked orders at his team-mates but he also showed some delightful
touches as Wimbledon came close to a second.
The Welsh international was alert enough to fire a quickly-taken free-kick 30
yards into the path of Gayle and the Jamaican international should have done
better than blast well wide.
Jones then came within inches of doubling the home side's lead meeting
Ardley's corner with a thumping header that unfortunately went straight at
Bosnich and the keeper was able to gather at his feet.
And it was no surprise when the Dons got a second six minutes before half
time, again from a right wing cross.
This time Ardley's cross went over the head of Scimeca to give Gayle time and
space at the far post to turn in a cross for the unmarked Leaburn to head past
Bosnich.
That would have been a fair reflection on the first half but a cruel piece of
luck brought Villa back into the game.
Just seconds after Collymore had shot wide from a good position, Milosevic's
shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection to leave Sullivan no
chance.
Villa enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the early stages of the second
half but created little to show for their dominance, Fear cut out Collymore's
cross before the £7million man wasted a free-kick just outside the area.
And Villa's hopes took a major blow on 57 minutes when Milosevic was forced to
limp off to be replaced by Lee Hendrie.
Hendrie has become a firm favourite of the Villa Park faithful but it
wasasking a lot for him to turn it around and although he injected a bit of pace
and urgency, Villa never really threatened an equaliser.
Sullivan had to be alert to cut out a couple of dangerous corners, one in
particular from Joachim, but he was not forced to make a save in the second
period as Villa's challenge fizzled out.
Teams
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Jones, Blackwell, Thatcher, Gayle (Cort 74),
Perry, Ardley, Jupp (Solbakken 54), Euell, Fear, Leaburn.
Subs Not Used: Heald, Reeves, Clarke.
Booked: Jupp, Solbakken.
Goals: Euell 10, Leaburn 39.
Aston Villa: Bosnich, Southgate, Ehiogu, Taylor,
Milosevic (Hendrie 56), Collymore, Joachim, Wright,
Nelson (Byfield 69), Grayson, Scimeca.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Collins, Walker.
Booked: Ehiogu.
Goals: Milosevic 41.
Att: 13,131
Ref: G R Ashby (Worcester).
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