LONDON (Reuters) - Aston Villa maintained their pursuit of a Champions League place on Sunday with a 2-1 Premier League victory at struggling Reading.

Ashley Young put Villa in front on the stroke of halftime after Gareth Barry had missed an earlier penalty.

Marlon Harewood increased Villa's lead after 83 minutes and although Nicky Shorey replied for Reading in stoppage time the home side slipped to their eighth consecutive league defeat.

Villa are in sixth place with 47 points, the same total as Liverpool and Everton who occupy fourth and fifth respectively.

Reading remain third from bottom with 22 points.

Blackburn Rovers play Bolton Wanderers later on Sunday.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Alison Wildey )