Aston Villa maintain Champions League hopes

Gareth Barry missed a penalty for Villa but Ashley Young and Marlon Harewood put them out of sight before a late consolation from Nicky Shorey for Reading.

 "We looked a threat all day, scored some great goals and played openly," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said.

 "Until we got the second goal it was difficult to breathe easily as we had to pick ourselves up after missing the penalty, but we scored at vital times.

 "The second goal sealed the win for us, so we're still in there battling, still competing to finish fourth.

 The victory keeps Villa sixth, but level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool. The top four sides at the end of the season qualify for the Champions League.

 For Reading, it was a club record eighth straight defeat and they remain in the bottom three, one point behind fourth-from-bottom Birmingham City.

 Villa should have taken the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a handball by Kalifa Cisse, but Barry blasted high and wide.

 But Martin O'Neill's team dominated the match and after good work from Gabriel Agbonlahor, Young lifted the ball high into the net for the opener just before half-time.

 Reading huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser but substitute Marlon Harewood scored a second for the visitors eight minutes from time.

 The one consolation for Reading was Shorey's fine free-kick in the fourth minute of injury time which was their first goal since January 12.

 "When you're down at the bottom you clutch at things that can give you a little boost, to change your form," Reading manager Steve Coppell said.

 "Hopefully Nicky Shorey's consolation goal can do that as we need something against the clubs that are with us in the mini-league at the bottom now."

   In the day's other league match, Blackburn moved up to ninth with a 4-1 win over Lancashire neighbours Bolton Wanderers.

 Benni McCarthy put them ahead midway through the first half from the penalty spot after a foul on David Dunn, but Kevin Davies equalized just after half-time for the visitors.

 McCarthy then restored the lead for Blackburn on 65 minutes, David Bentley got the third just five minutes later and Morten Gamst Pedersen completed the win in injury time to leave Bolton still struggling to avoid relegation.

By Ben James, dpa