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Monday December 21 - FA Carling Premiership Attendance: 20,043

Charlton (0) 0 - Aston Villa (1) 1

Aston Villa returned to the top of the Premiership but they were made to fight all the way by struggling Charlton who suffered their fifth successive league defeat. Villa were given the perfect Christmas present when Charlton defender Richard Rufus turned an innocuous cross from Dion Dublin into his own net after just three minutes of the game. Villa always had too much class for the battling home side but they were indebted to 'keeper Michael Oakes who made two great second-half saves to deny John Robertson and Neil Redfearn. Charlton's slump had seen them go 288 minutes since their last league goal. Referee Steve Dunn of Bristol had to be replaced at half-time by the fourth official Gary Willard after damaging a hamstring, and the half-time break was extended to 25 minutes whilst another referee was sought from the crowd

GOALS
0-1 Aston Villa 3 mins Rufus
Dublin's cross went into the bottom left corner of goal behind 'keeper Ilic after deflecting off defender Rufus at the near post

MATCH RATING

TEAMS and player ratings

 MATCHfacts Rating
* MATCHfacts Star Rating
 
Charlton
Ilic  6            
Mills  7            
Powell  6            
Redfearn  7            
Rufus  6            
Newton  6 sub 70 mins by Mendonca  6      
Kinsella  8*            
Hunt  5            
Robinson  6            
Jones, S  6            
Tiler  5            
Subs not used: Brown Jones, K Konchesky Royce
 
Aston Villa
Oakes  8*            
Wright  7            
Southgate  6            
Ehiogu  7            
Watson  7            
Taylor  6            
Collymore  6 sub 55 mins by Scimeca  6      
Thompson  7            
Joachim  7            
Dublin  6            
Hendrie  6            
Subs not used: Charles Grayson Vassell Rachel

Referee G. S. Willard (Goring by Sea) (Rating 6)

Yellow Cards
Charlton Jones, S 36 mins (unsporting behaviour); Tiler 64 mins (foul); Mills 83 mins (foul)

Aston Villa Watson 10 mins (foul); Taylor 19 mins (foul); Thompson 45 mins (dissent)

Shots On Target: Charlton 4, Aston Villa 6

Corners: Charlton 10, Aston Villa 5