Ugo Ehiogu headed a late winner as Villa bounced back from their Boxing Day defeat at Blackburn to return to the top of the Premiership.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Steve Wilson reports from Villa Park

An 88th minute strike condemned them to defeat at Ewood Park, but fortune was on their side this time as Ehiogu soared above Wednesday's defence with five minutes left.

It was hard luck on the visitors who played for almost 70 minutes without Dejan Stefanovic, who was sent off for two bookable offences.

Des Walker marshalled their defence superbly and it looked like they would hang on for a point when Julian Joachim rattled the woodwork, but Ehiogu had other ideas.

His goal meant Villa were back on top for 30 hours at least - with Chelsea playing Manchester United on Tuesday evening.

A thrilling start

Wednesday conceded two early fouls either side of their penalty area and paid the price when the second, which earned Dejan Stefanovic a yellow card, resulted in Gareth Southgate putting Villa in front.

Stefanovic: A brief appearance

Goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek failed to reach the ball under pressure from Dion Dublin and England defender Southgate slammed it home on the half volley from ten yards.

The lead lasted only 60 seconds as Andy Hinchcliffe lofted the ball into the Villa box, Emerson Thome won it in the air and an unmarked Benito Carbone made no mistake with an acrobatic overhead kick.

The visitors strung their passes together nicely in midfield but were caught out in the 21st minute by a ball into the channel which gave Julian Joachim the chance to stretch his legs.

Stefanovic slid across to try and cut out the danger but fractionally mis-timed the tackle and the referee had no hesitation in sending him off for a second bookable offence.

Wednesday were pressed back but remained dangerous on the counter with Alexandersson volleying narrowly wide and Carbone beating Michael Oakes with a superb angled chip in the 41st minute, only for the ball to skim the roof of the net.

But Villa almost regained the lead before the interval as Alan Wright's cross found Dion Dublin, but his first shot struck a defender and Srnicek smothered the follow-up effort.

Change of tactics

Dion Dublin proved a handful in the air

John Gregory wasted no time in bringing on substitute Stan Collymore after the re-start and he joined Dublin and Joachim in a three-man attack.

Collymore had an early chance for glory as Wright's 54th minute cross found him unmarked in the box, but it arrived at an awkward height and the ball ended in the upper reaches of the stand.

Ehiogu had a header disallowed for pushing soon afterwards and Srnicek kept out a close range header from Dublin and Collymore's 25-yard blast.

Wednesday found it increasingly hard to get the ball out of their own half but Walker made some timely interceptions and Srnicek flew through the air again to clutch another goalbound Dublin header.

The referee waved away penalty appeals after Joachim went down in the box under challenge from Andy Hinchcliffe and it looked as if Villa's chance had gone when the Villa striker later saw a fierce shot rebound from the angle of post and crossbar.

But Wednesday finally cracked when a Alan Wright's right-wing corner found Srnicek wanting and Ehiogu nodded into the empty net.

Aston Villa: Oakes, Wright, Southgate, Ehiogu, Watson, Taylor,Joachim, Dublin, Barry, Hendrie, Scimeca. Subs: Charles, Draper, Collymore, Grayson, Rachel.

Sheffield Wed: Srnicek, Atherton, Jonk, Walker, Carbone, Booth, Stefanovic, Hinchcliffe, Thome, Rudi, Alexandersson. Subs: Humphreys, Briscoe, Magilton, Sonner, Pressman.