ANDY TOWNSEND earned Aston Villa a thrilling victory in a stunning five goal Premiership encounter with struggling Sheffield Wednesday at Villa Park. Townsend's 75th minute strike ended a spell of four goals in the space of just 14 minutes as battling Wednesday were sent tumbling close to the relegation door.

The defeat was a bitter blow for Wednesday, who had looked set to end a dismal run of five defeats in six games thanks to an admirable debut from their new £1 million winger Regi Blinker. The Dutch international struck twice in his first appearance following his move from Feyernoord last week, but his performance was matched by Villa's own foreign star, Savo Milosevic, who ended his two month drought with a double second half blast.

There was little sign of what was to come when Blinker gave Wednesday a deserved eighth minute lead. He cut in from the left wing and slipped into the penalty area before chipping the ball over the stranded Mark Bosnich from the angle of the six yard box.

A half time roasting from Villa manager Brian Little brought his team to life and they put themselves in front when Milosevic struck twice within the space of a minute. The Yugoslav international headed a sliced 61st minute clearance from Lee Briscoe past the stranded Chris Woods before racing onto a lost ball and powering another headed beyond Woods 60 seconds later.

But, while Villa were still celebrating, Blinker used his pace to race clear of the defence and volleyed a 63rd minute drive beyond Bosnich from 12 yards.

However, any hopes that Wednesday had of picking up at least a point after grabbing their first away goals since December here dashed by Townsend. He picked up a back heel from Dwight Yorke and gave Woods no chance with a rising left foot drive.