Villa get first points with 2-0 victory over Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's Jack Grealish and Wesley celebrate after the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

(Reuters) - Promoted Aston Villa earned their first Premier League points of the season with a 2-0 win over Everton thanks to goals from Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi at Villa Park on Friday.

Villa's Brazilian striker Wesley, signed in the close season for a club record 22 million pounds ($27.03 million), put them ahead in the 21st minute with a clinical finish after a perfectly timed through ball from Spanish midfielder Jota.

Everton, who could have claimed provisional top spot with a victory, went close to a first-half equaliser but Dominic Calvert-Lewin's strike was superbly cleared off the line by defender Bjorn Engels.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's John McGinn and Frederic Guilbert celebrate their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

The Merseysiders, who have four points from three games, struggled to turn their pressure into chances until manager Marco Silva introduced new signings Moise Kean and Alex Iwobi just after the hour mark.

Iwobi struck the post in the 82nd minute with a low drive through a crowded penalty and then fellow substitute and another former Arsenal winger, Theo Walcott, missed a great chance - volleying wide at the back post from a Kean cross.

Villa, back in the top flight after a three-year absence, made sure of the win in stoppage time when, after a break led by Wesley, Dutch substitute El Ghazi slotted home.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa manager Dean Smith reacts REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Villa manager Dean Smith was delighted with the result after defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend and last week's home loss to Bournemouth.

"I am more pleased to get the first points in the Premier League," he said. "Our performances have been OK, Tottenham was tough first up and we were good for an hour.

"We played well against Bournemouth and from the supporters there is a lot of optimism. They stuck right behind us.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 AstonAston Villa's Douglas Luiz shoots at goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

"Everton started brighter but it was a good performance to get the win," added Smith.

"We have had a bit of fortune, they have missed two big chances form inside the box and Theo Walcott shot over. But I always felt we were a threat on the counter."

Silva was left scratching his head at his team's failure to get on the scoresheet.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz in action with Everton's Seamus Coleman REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

"It is really difficult to see how we can lose this game when we created so many chances to score. It is a tough place to play football," said the Portuguese.

"The most difficult thing is to create and when you do you have to put the ball in the net."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin in action with Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

(Reporting by Simon Evans; editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Everton's Yerry Mina in action with Aston Villa's Jack Grealish REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Everton's Lucas Digne in action with Aston Villa's Trezeguet REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's Wesley celebrates scoring their first goal with Tyrone Mings REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's Anwar El Ghazi celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's John McGinn in action with Everton's Moise Kean Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's Tom Heaton and Everton's Jordan Pickford embrace after the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Aston Villa's Wesley celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 23, 2019 Everton manager Marco Silva looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine