Everton 0 - 1 Aston Villa

Everton 0-1 Aston Villa

Updated: November 11, 2006, 12:58 PM ET

Veteran Sutton struck with a neat header just before the break and Villa fought gallantly throughout the second half to hang on to the points.

Everton lost inspirational midfielder Tim Cahill with what looked like a serious leg injury in the first half.

Villa started brightly and Isaiah Osbourne rattled a 20-yard shot wide. Then Sutton set up Stiliyan Petrov on the edge of the box, and Tim Howard was forced into a save by his boots.

Andrew Johnson took advantage of an error by Wilfred Bouma to sprint away and he should have slid the ball into the unmarked Simon Davies' path, but he chose to cut into the box himself and squandered the chance.

Everton found themselves behind on 41 minutes when Sutton scored with a glancing header from Osbourne's cross from the right.

Even England man Johnson could not pull Everton level. In first-half stoppage time he collected a James Beattie flick-on and raced into the box, only to fire wide from 10 yards.

Three minutes after the break Lee Carsley burst clear in the box and fired wide from eight yards.

Johnson's chip then set up Carsley for a header that dropped wide and Beattie headed over from a Leon Osman free-kick.

One fine run down the left by Mikel Arteta produced a low cross that went begging, before the midfielder curled a free-kick just wide.

Victor Anichebe replaced Osman to give Everton more power up front, but it made little difference although the youngster had an effort charged down.

Arteta`s clever run saw Carsley presented with a clear shooting chance, but there was no power in the effort and Thomas Sorensen saved.