Houllier’s right response

GERARD HOULLIER admitted his overriding feeling was one of relief after Aston Villa overcame West Brom 2-1 in the midlands derby clash at Villa Park.

Villa ended a sequence of three successive Barclays Premier League defeats and it was the perfect tonic for Houllier after fans had criticised his behaviour on returning to Liverpool for Monday’s clash at Anfield which saw Villa beaten 3-0.

He said: “The defeat at Liverpool hurt us, more with the way it happened.