BIRMINGHAM, England: Andreas Weimann scored a priceless brace against Hull to all but guarantee Aston Villa's English Premier League place for another season with a 3-1 victory on Saturday.
Weimann, without a goal in 12 matches dating to January, delivered just when his side needed it most with a pair of headers in the four minutes before halftime at Villa Park.
The Austrian's intervention turned a nervy 1-1 scoreline into a 3-1 lead which the hosts preserved to claim a first win in seven outings.
Ashley Westwood put Villa ahead after just 58 seconds but the hosts surrendered the lead when Jordan Bowery turned Liam Rosenior's low cross into his own goal.
Paul Lambert's Villa can be dragged down only if Norwich win both remaining matches as well as effecting a huge swing in goal difference. With the Canaries away to Chelsea on Sunday and hosting Arsenal next weekend, Villa fans can safely shelve their relegation fears.
Hull, a point behind Villa, is also unlikely to be hauled in by Norwich, but its three-game winless run bodes ill for the FA Cup final against Arsenal on May 17.
