Aston Villa 2 - 1 West Brom
Somen Tchoyi nearly gave the visitors a deserved lead but when his shot hit the bar Villa soon led as Stewart Downing hooked in Marc Albrighton's fine cross.
Returning striker Emile Heskey nodded a simple second with 11 minutes left from another tasty Albrighton delivery.
Paul Scharner's header pulled one back, but West Brom's late surge fell short.
Holding off a West Brom side with technique and invention, spirited Villa put Monday's woeful 3-0 defeat at Liverpool behind them to notch only their second win in the past 11 Premier League matches.
A much-changed team from the XI who started at Anfield fought hard to show that Houllier, who came in for strong criticism after the loss at his beloved former club, can revive a side which is still recovering from the shock departure of influential former boss Martin O'Neill.
Acting captain Richard Dunne was dropped, but Ashley Young was always dangerous on his return from suspension while youngsters Albrighton and Barry Bannan showed rich glimpses of promise.
But West Brom have talent in their ranks too, as the first close call of this West Midlands derby match showed
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