Premier League: Aston Villa 1 West Bromwich Albion 2

AND on the Sixth Day Albion travelled to Villa Park.

The period between October 16 and October 22 was to be a red-letter week for Albion.

Two victories against local rivals, a return to Premier League significance and, above all, a much-needed victory over an old adversary.

When Albion conceded their three goals at Swansea there was genuine concern.

It wasn’t that long ago – yet Albion’s performances since then have improved.

The Liberty Stadium display was one of the worst performances from an Albion side for many years – easily the least productive of Roy Hodgson’s reign.

Yet here we are five weeks later talking about strident performances in back-to-back derby games.

To beat Wolves wasn’t a major shock. They hadn’t been playing well and Albion had made progress in their previous game against Sunderland. It got unnoticed simply because of the way that particular fixture panned out.

But the Villa Park victory was another level up from the win against Mick McCarthy’s men.

Not only was it Albion’s first win in the league on Villa territory since May 1979, but the manner of the victory pleased Hodgson.

And so it should.

The removal of Chris Herd was unfortunate for Villa – still not sure what he did wrong – but the numerical disadvantage has often been shown to be anything but.

Yet Albion exploited Villa’s weaknesses, all the same. Would Herd have made much difference?

Maybe. But probably not.

It should have been nine men facing 11. Alan Hutton’s challenge wasn’t so much robust, but cowardly. It was the kind of challenge designed to hurt a player.

Albion are now at the mercy of medical scans.

And yet it could have happened earlier.

Shane Long, who tormented Wolves the previous week, was clearly a marked man.

Alex McLeish had done his homework.

From the first whistle, Villa defenders were determined to prevent Long’s impact by whatever means necessary.

It’s unfortunate a team stocked with such talent within its ranks should resort to such Sunday morning glory.

While Villa’s defenders resorted to such rudimentary spit-and-sawdust football, Albion were generally more pleasing to watch. And certainly more effective.

Jonas Olsson’s header from a first-half corner was well-executed and he should have grabbed a second during the second half.

Paul Scharner’s goal, meanwhile, was outstanding. A brilliant finish from another corner.

His subsequent booking was perhaps less productive.

McLeish’s sides are not traditionally so poor from set-pieces. Yet Albion, time and again, found themselves able to run away from markers as they attacked a corner or a set-piece.