A Christian Benteke brace has given Aston Villa a 2-0 half-time lead against Everton in their Premier League clash at Villa Park.

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The hosts were quickest out of the starting blocks and came close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute when Benteke leaped highest to get to Jack Grealish's inswinging corner, but his effort flew wide.

Villa only had to wait a further four minutes before they successfully broke the deadlock, with their livewire Belgian striker nodding home Fabian Delph's cross after getting behind John Stones and Phil Jagielka.

Everton continued to struggle against Tim Sherwood's charges as Tim Howard was forced to get down low to keep out a stinging Charles N'Zogbia free kick from 30 yards.

The game slowed down in the midway stages of the first half, though Villa could have doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Ron Vlaar sent a free header wide of the post.

Nevertheless, the hosts were able to add a second goal on the stroke of half time as the prolific and unmarked Benteke stabbed the ball into the roof of the net from Grealish's pinpoint corner.