Villa's kids secured a fifth win in six as they edged this seven-goal thriller against a gritty Palace side.

Andreas Weimann (2), Dominic Hoffbauer and Nathan Delfouneso were on the mark as Villa lead 3-0 at one stage, were pegged back to 3-3 and then secured all three points with a second-half winner.

Hoffbauer opened the scoring for Villa on seven, heading home as Weimann burst foward beating two players and crossing for Delfouneso to flick the ball on.

Palace keeper Keiran Thorp was lucky to escape with a ticking off on 15 as he handled two yards outside his box. Villa were unable to makie the most of the resulting free-kick.

Three minutes later Nathan Delfouneso did double the Villa lead as he pounced on a defensive mistake, rounded Thorp and slotted home.

Weimann, who scored a spectacular winner against Chelsea last weekend, made it 3-0 in 23 and he fired a low 25-yard drive beyond the Palace keeper.

Villa were dominant at this stage, but Ashley Robinson reduced the arrears from the penalty spot to give Palace hope on 33.

John Bostock added a second for the hosts eight minutes after the interval, firing into the top corner from 25 yards.

Palace were level on 62 as Villa keeper David Bevan was unable to hold a corner and Lee Hills tapped in the equaliser.

The home side were now in the ascendansy, but not for the first time this season, the Young Lions showed plenty of character to secure the points.

The winner came on 69 as Weimann turned on the edge of the box and fired low into the bottom corner.

VILLA: Bevan, Roome, Earls, Clancy, Clark, D.Bellon, Y.Bellon, Bannan, Delfouneso, Weimann, Hoffbauer. Subs: Bradley (for Delfouneso 80)