Having lost 2-0 at Bournemouth on the opening weekend, Villa bounced back with an industrious performance at a sweltering Villa Park.

The two managers, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, appeared 59 times together for England in careers that saw them lauded for their attacking flair, but there was very little creativity on show until Ings opened the scoring for the home side with the only shot on target in the first half.

After good work down the right by Ollie Watkins, Ings swiped the ball from team mate Philippe Coutinho before cutting back onto his left foot and rifling a shot past Jordan Pickford just past the half-hour.

Everton, who lost 1-0 at home to Chelsea last weekend, upped the tempo in the second half, but struggled to create many clear-cut chances.

Villa looked have clinched victory when Buendia scored in the 85th minute from a Watkins pass after Everton lost the ball in the centre of the field.

But the culrpit, new signing Amadou Onana, immediately forced an own goal by former Everton player Lucas Digne to make for a nervous finish

With Everton throwing everything forward, Tyrone Mings, who had been recalled to the side, made a superb late challenge to deny substitute Salomon Rondon as the home side held on.

"There were always going to be edgy moments in the game, Everton are a physical side and they caused us problems," Ings said.

"That's how you stick it out, that's how you grind it out and win ugly at times."

Australian Associated Press