ALWAYS more, much more, than a West Midlands turf war indulged in by mobs at either end of the A4040, this should have confirmed to Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill that his team are capable of disturbing the equilibrium of the so-called Big Four.

The difference may, ultimately, have been a howler from Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson, and Villa will also offer grateful appreciation to referee Steve Bennett, who rightly refused to be suckered into awarding a last-minute penalty to Albion. But a performance that began “sloppily”, according to O’Neill, and ended “nervily” was testament that his men, recording their fifth league victory in six games, have the ability to sustain the momentum established over December; a month in which O’Neill and Ashley Young claimed Barclays Premier League manager and player of the month respectively.

Of course, the title itself may be stretching aspirations. Perhaps understandably, O’Neill dismissed the likelihood of a first championship at Villa Park since Ron Saunders’ men achieved that distinction in 1981, yesterday declaring: “Don’t be silly . . . we would have to be better equipped in terms of players.”

Yet, you sense there exists an inner belief that saving the country from yet another season of domination by Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool is conceivable. The reality is that the squad he and his chairman have assembled in the 28 months since he succeeded David O’Leary — benefiting from the switch from Deadly Doug Ellis to Reclusive, Restrained Randy Lerner — have thus far refused to buckle under the white-hot heat of ever-increasing anticipation in these parts, and have readily deflected cynicism.

His squad lacks depth of quality, it has been said, and it is true that O’Neill has used only 18 players in the Premier League, the lowest in the division. Yesterday, Gabriel Agbonlahor played, despite illness. “He’s been poorly all week, with ’flu, tonsillitis, chicken pox, you name it, but he’s a massive player for us — and he wanted to play,” explained O’Neill of the player whose opportunism forced Carson into his error.

Would Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsène Wenger have taken a similar decision? Though such constant use of a small squad must eventually take its toll, there has been no evidence of it yet.

Not that Villa’s progress is without its detractors. Yesterday O’Neill’s counterpart, Tony Mowbray, who admittedly surveys matters from the position of a jealous neighbour, was not overly impressed.

“We gave them more than enough concern,” reflected Mowbray. “All their chances came from breakaways from \ Young and Agbonlahor. They’re not really interested in playing football and playing the ball around. That game epitomised us. We had plenty of the ball, moved it around well, and they were only a threat on the counter-attack. They were not creating any clear-cut chances and yet they found themselves 2-0 up.”

Asked if he judged Villa to be top four contenders, he added, without a great deal of enthusiasm: “Villa are winning games. Everyone has got their own beliefs on how to play football and ultimately it is only results that matter to people. That is why teams like us are a dream for Aston Villa because we try to retain the ball and move it around. There is space for them to break. I am very respectful. There is no right or wrong way.”

Villa seized the lead when Steve Sidwell had two headers cleared off the line in quick succession. Albion failed to clear, Gareth Barry crossed and defender Curtis Davies, the former West Brom player, sent in a superb diving header. His reaction was subdued, out of respect, he said, for his old club, and presumably their fans, who made their feelings known about his move in 2007.

Davies said: “I’ve got a lot of respect for the club. I’ve got friends there. I know they hate me but I’ve got no intention of letting them hate me even more.” Ashley Young, who O’Neill claimed this week was worth eight times the £9.6m fee Villa paid Watford, responded to such praise with an exhilarating performance on the flank. He was in majestic form, and early on curled the ball just wide of Carson’s goal before James Milner issued a perfect invitation to Sidwell to add a second goal that the midfielder failed to accept.

Albion’s Jay Simpson, on loan from Arsenal, made his first start and acquitted himself well but in the first half the visitors looked a team who had scored only three goals on their travels this season. Technically pleasing and neat with their passing, Mowbray’s men simply did not carry any threat.

A James Morrison header was comfortably fielded by goalkeeper Brad Friedel and when defender Carl Hoefkens whipped in a tantalising cross, Simpson’s snapshot flew wide.

Then Villa struck again. Agbonlahor was allowed to drift far too easily into the Albion penalty area and although he was at an acute angle he decided, because he had no immediate support, to have a crack at goal. His luck was in, because Carson allowed the ball to squeeze under him at the near post. Mowbray simply stared at the ground.

The half-time introduction of Czech international Roman Bednar — belatedly, one felt — had a galvanising effect on Albion’s capacity for attack.

Early in the second half, the striker’s knock-down from Jonathan Greening’s diagonal ball gave James Morrison the chance to thrash the ball past Friedel. For Villa, a healthy position had suddenly developed into a stress-related bout of sickness, with their game punctuated by errors.

Villa still fashioned opportunities, though, Carson atoning for his earlier aberration with fine saves from Ashley Young and Sidwell. Then Agbonlahor was wide after Young set him up. A frantic conclusion ended with Robert Koren being felled under the challenge of Ashley Young. Mr Bennett rejected the visitors’ protests.

Mowbray complained that his team deserved more, and despite this reverse could point to his team having amassed the greatest number of points for the bottom club at this stage since the Premier League began 17 years ago. Unless he can acquire strikers to apply the finishing touch to some sterling approach work, you fear Albion are doomed.

ASTON VILLA: Friedel 6, Reo-Coker 6, Davies 7, Laursen 6, L Young 6, Petrov 7, Milner 7, Sidwell 6 (Cuellar 85min), Barry 8, A Young 7, Agbonlahor 7
WEST BROM: Carson 6, Hoefkens 6, Barnett 5, Olsson 6, Robinson 6, Morrison 6 (Brunt 64), Koren 7, Greening 7, Borja Valero 6 (Do-Heon 76min), Simpson 7, Moore 5 (Bednar h-t, 7)