Blackburn Rovers' Benni McCarthy (top) is tackled by Bolton Wanderers' El Hadji Diouf during their English Premier League soccer match at Ewood Park, Blackburn, England, yesterday. Blackburn won 4-1. - AP

LONDON (AP):

Ashley Young and Marlon Harewood scored a goal each yesterday to lead Aston Villa over Reading 2-1 in the Barclays English Premier League and keep the team in contention for a spot in the Champions League, and Blackburn outplayed relegation-threatened Bolton 4-1 with Benni McCarthy converting two penalties.

Villa wasted a 33rd-minute penalty at the Madejski Stadium when Gareth Barry completely missed the target after the ball struck Kalifa Cisse on the arm just inside the Reading area.

But Villa always looked dangerous on the break and Cisse's mistimed tackle allowed Gabriel Agbonlahor to break down the right. The striker pulled the ball back to the unmarked Ashley Young, who drove it confidently into the roof of the net from 10 metres (yards).

Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson blocked a shot from Nicky Shorey and Reading striker Dave Kitson missed a close-range header before the visitors scored again in the 83rd minute.

Marlon Harewood collected the ball in his own half on a breakaway, fed Young and then took the return pass to lob a curling shot over Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

After Carson had made another blocking save from Kitson, Reading finally hit the target when Shorey's free kick went in off the post.

Although Villa stayed in sixth place in the Premier League standings, the team moved level on points with fourth-place Liverpool and fifth-place Everton. The top four finishers enter the Champions League next season, although that will be cut to three in 2009.