Aston Villa striker Julian Joachim fired a two-goal blast to send his side back level on points with Premiership leaders Chelsea, as they easily disposed of 10-man Everton at Villa Park.

Joachim enabled Villa to put a disappointing first-half performance behind them after Everton defender Alex Cleland was sent off for two bookable offences after 11 minutes.

Watching England coach Glenn Hoddle saw the former Leicester player break the deadlock in the 40th minute and then effectively kill off the contest with his second goal six minutes into the second period.

It took Joachim's goal tally into double figures for the campaign, and he is on course to surpass his previous best tally for a campaign of 14 with The Foxes five years ago.

Everton defended with plenty of grit and determination in the first period, but in the second half, it was purely a damage-limitation exercise for Walter Smith's side who have now taken two points from the last 15.

Villa seldom showed their usual fluency but they still won in a canter again demonstrated they do not intend to give up their quest for a first League crown in 18 years without a tremendous fight.

There was even the luxury of icing on the cake in the form of a Paul Merson goal as he put his misunderstanding with manager John Gregory behind him in his first outing for two months after his back injury lay-off.

Cleland collected his first yellow card in the 10th minute after bringing down the pacey Joachim in full flight just outside the area after he had cut in from the left wing.

Sixty seconds later, the former Rangers player - Howard Kendall's last signing before the start of the Smith era - saw red from Scunthorpe referee Neal Barry after a touchline challenge from behind on Dion Dublin.

Smith switched Oliver Dacourt into Cleland's right-back berth, and unsurprisingly, Villa enjoyed the lion's share of the possession with their numerical advantage.

But the home side struggled to break down a determined Everton side who had gone into the game operating a 4-5-1 system with Ibrahima Bakayoko the lone striker.

Joachim shot across the face of the goal when well placed after being found in space by Lee Hendrie, but Villa were guilty of too much slipshod passing in the opening 45 minutes.

Ian Taylor, who today spelt out his desire to stay at the club for life, sent a 25-yard effort just wide, and Riccardo Scimeca was a yard too high with a volley from just outside the area.

But that was the total of Villa's threat to Thomas Myhre's goal before Joachim broke the deadlock in the 40th minute after Dublin had been fouled by Dacourt near the touchline.

Hendrie curled in the free-kick which was headed back by Taylor, and in an instant, Joachim controlled the ball and volleyed past Myhre via the underside of the bar.

Everton tried to retaliate and in the 43rd minute Villa 'keeper Michael Oakes saved Villa skipper Gareth Southgate from conceding an embarrassing own goal.

The England defender, under pressure from Bakayoko, toe-poked the ball back towards his own goal, and it needed Oakes to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch.

Gregory brought on Stan Collymore for Dublin at the start of the second half, and Villa immediately stepped up a gear after their lacklustre opening 45 minutes.

They needed only six minutes to double their lead courtesy of a another clinical finish by Joachim which rounded off a delightful move.

Scimeca and Taylor were involved before Hendrie's first-time pass found Joachim who raced clear of the defence before beating Myhre with a cross-shot into the left-hand roof of the net.

Collymore almost added to the lead with a good header from a Steve Watson cross which Myhre clung onto away to his left.

Then Myhre turned behind a powerful effort from Watson after Joachim had turned the ball invitingly into his path.

One of the biggest cheers of the night came after 59 minutes with the introduction of Merson.

He quickly made his presence felt with a darting run from midfield although his final shot was easy meat for Myhre.

But he made no mistake in the 78th minute from close range after Watson headed a cross from that man Joachim back into his path.

Teams

Aston Villa: Oakes, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Watson, Scimeca, Taylor (Merson 59), Hendrie (Draper 82), Wright, Joachim, Dublin (Collymore 45).

Subs Not Used: Grayson, Rachel.

Booked: Dublin.

Goals: Joachim 40, 51, Merson 78.

Everton: Myhre, Cleland, Watson, Dacourt, Ball, Barmby, Oster (Cadamarteri 83), Grant (Ward 69), Hutchison, Materazzi, Bakayoko (Branch 83).

Subs Not Used: Milligan, Simonsen.

Sent Off: Cleland (11).

Booked: Cleland, Myhre.

Att: 32,488

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).