Sunday soccer round-up:Emile Heskey's late goal enabled new Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier to emerge triumphant from his first Premier League match in charge of the midlands club with a 2-1 victory at Wolves.
The England striker celebrated his first league start for six months by heading home an 87th-minute cross from Stephen Warnock.
Matt Jarvis’s first goal of the campaign looked to have rescued Wolves a point after Stewart Downing’s close range effort separated the sides at half-time.
Villa were the better side in the first half with Ashley Young impressing in his role just behind the revitalised Heskey.
Nigel Reo-Coker was dominant in midfield while Carlos Cuellar made a series of crucial interceptions when Wolves did threaten. But Wolves were a revitalised force in the second 45 minutes with Brad Friedel the busier of the two goalkeepers.
Jarvis was at the heart of their most threatening moments while David Jones impressed in the centre of the park before Heskey denied them a point.
It means Villa are unbeaten in 17 matches with Wolves stretching back 30 years.
James Perch's own goal handed Stokeall three points in a 2-1 victory as Newcastlelost at home for the second time in a row.
The full back headed Matthew Etherington’s corner into his own net under pressure from Robert Huth to complete a concerted fightback by the Potters.
Kevin Nolan’s 43rd-minute penalty had given the Magpies a deserved half-time lead, but Stoke responded after the break and were back on terms with 67 minutes gone when Sunderland old boy Kenwyne Jones, who had earlier hit both the post and the bar, headed home from close range.
But there was still a sickening twist to come five minutes from time when Perch’s unwitting intervention handed the visitors victory in front of a crowd of 41,915.
Meanwhile, Rangersmanager Walter Smith enjoyed his first win at Pittodrie since returning to the Ibrox hot-seat three years ago as Rangers claimed a spirited 3-2 victory over Aberdeento go back above Celtic at the top of the SPL table.
The Dons looked set to maintain their impressive home record over the Ibrox side when they raced into a two-goal lead thanks to first half strikes from Scott Vernon and Chris Maguire, who was sent off in the closing stages for a second booking.
In-form Kenny Miller, however, pulled a goal back from the spot after Vladimir Weiss had been brought down by Jerel Ifil to keep his side in the match after 34 minutes.
The Scotland striker netted his 10th goal of the season after 52 minutes when he was on hand to turn home Steven Davis’s cut-back and the comeback was complete when Steven Naismith beat the offside trap to unselfishly set up Nikica Jelavic for an easy finish.