Burnley 1 Aston Villa 2 - Report and pictures

Right when Villa’s boss really needed it most, his team produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Burnley and inject fresh belief into a campaign which had been threatening to unravel.

Wesley and Jack Grealish got the goals as Villa overcame the Clarets, VAR and injuries to two key players to secure a first league victory at Turf Moor since 1936, which helped them climb out of the Premier League relegation zone ahead of the rest of the New Year's Day fixtures.

Both Wesley and Tom Heaton, on his return to his former club, left the field to knee injuries in the final 20 minutes, while Chris Wood’s header ensured a nervy finish.

Grealish had earlier seen an opening goal ruled out by VAR for the most marginal of offside calls in the build-up.

Yet through all the adversity, Villa stayed firm, showing the kind of character and grit that had been entirely absent from the weekend’s dire performance at Watford.

For Smith, who had seen scrutiny on his position increase in the wake of the loss at Vicarage Road, this was a huge win. The fact he was congratulated on the pitch by Villa’s CEO Christian Purslow just seconds after the final whistle told its own story.

Elation at victory was tempered somewhat by the injuries to Heaton and Wesley, the latter of whom had submitted one of his most consistent performances of the season and snapped a 12-match goal drought.

But this was still a huge and deserved three points for Villa, who had entered the match on a run in five defeats in six Premier League matches and with the division’s worst away record.

Smith’s team selection was arguably the most radical of his reign with a shift in system to three at the back leading to five changes from the XI beaten so badly at Watford.

In addition to the return of the fit-again Tyrone Mings, there was also a place for Neil Taylor at left-wing back, with the Wales international making his first Premier League start since September.

Frederic Guilbert, Marvelous Nakamba and Trezeguet were also recalled to the XI.

Villa took control from the first whistle and the first effort of the match came from Wesley, whose did well to hold off the challenge of James Tarkowski before seeing his shot take a flick off the defender and fly behind.

From the corner, came the controversy. The ball was cleared only as far as Konsa, who delivered a delightful cross which Grealish, arriving late in the box, glanced into the bottom corner.

The goal looked perfectly good yet it quickly became apparent was under the scrutiny of VAR official Jarred Gillett, who after a three minute delay ruled it out for Wesley’s heel being millimetres offside in the build-up.

It was the second time this season Villa had seen an opening goal chalked out against the Clarets and perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the afternoon was their reaction to the setback.

Whereas in recent weeks heads might have dropped, this time Villa kept their foot on the gas and Wesley should have opened the scoring after being set up by Grealish, his shot being saved by the legs of Nick Pope.

The Brazilian would not be denied soon after however. Grealish’s attempted cross took a flick off Ben Mee and into the path of Wesley, who in one movement chested it down and in the next fired a right-footed volley under the legs of Pope.

Burnley were all over the place and four minutes before the break Villa had their second, Grealish with a goal VAR could not rule out.

Trezeguet was the architect, robbing Charlie Taylor and racing into the opposing half before finding Wesley on the wing.

From there the ball was switched to Nakamba and Luiz and eventually to Grealish, who took a step inside before firing a finish high into the net for his sixth Premier League goal of the season.

Grealish was having a fine game and was quickly into the action after the break, teeing up Douglas Luiz for a chance the midfielder sent weakly straight at Pope.

Sean Dyche had reacted to his team’s dire first half showing by bringing on Jay Rodriguez and the former Albion striker should have reduced the deficit, yet somehow failed to hit the target from four yards out after meeting Tarkowski’s low cross.

Villa had another let off when Wood hammered Charlie Taylor’s cross wide from six yards out.

The visitors suffered their first injury blow with 20 minutes remaining when Wesley was caught on the follow through by Ben Mee and had to leave the field on a stretcher.

Even then the visitors seemed to be seeing the match out with ease until Wood brought Burnley back into it, heading home Ashley Westwood’s cross.

Heaton got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out and went down clutching his right knee. Unable to walk after treatment, he became the second Villa player to leave on a stretcher.

Orjan Nyland came off the bench but was not troubled as Villa held on through nine minutes of stoppage time.

Burnley (4-4-2): Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Brady (Gudmundsson HT), Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Wood, Barnes (Rodriguez HT) Subs not used: Lowton, Drinkwater, Hendrick, Long, Hart (gk).

Villa (3-4-3): Heaton (Nyland 85), Konsa, Mings, Hause, Guilbert, Luiz, Nakamba, Taylor, Trezeguet (Hourihane 77), Wesley (Kodjia 71), Grealish Subs not used: Chester, Lansbury, El Ghazi, Elmohamady.