Aston Villa and QPR picked up victories on a crucial day for the sides near the bottom of the Premier League table.

More on ESPN FC

---

Suddenly there is a whiff of safety about a Queens Park Rangers team that has been in the bottom three since the first day of the season, writes John Brewin at Loftus Road. Story

• Smith: New boys prove importance of spending

---

Villa's victory at Reading was dramatic, high on tension and owed much to a slice of good fortune in the shape of a marginal offside decision, but it also brings badly-needed belief, writes Kevin Hughes. Story

• Norwich: Penalty miss sums up miserable day
• Swansea: Linesman denies Swans salvation

---

Paul Lambert's Villa had looked to be heading deeper into the relegation mire when Nathan Baker put an attempted clearance into his own net against Reading.

But Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor hit back as the visitors dominated the latter stages of the first half to go 2-1 up.

Noel Hunt thought he had equalized for the Royals after the break, but his effort was ruled out for offside as Villa climbed out of the bottom three.

Basement side QPR also came from behind to secure a 3-1 win over Sunderland.

Steven Fletcher's tap-in had put the Black Cats a goal to the good at Loftus Road, but Loic Remy leveled with an excellent low finish before Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas sealed the win.

Norwich should also have picked up a valuable win but Grant Holt's failure to convert a late penalty against Southampton meant it finished goalless at Carrow Road.

In the day's other game, West Brom climbed to seventh in the table by beating Swansea 2-1 at The Hawthorns.

Luke Moore had put the Swans ahead against his former club, but Romelu Lukaku and a Jonathan de Guzman own goal gave the Baggies the three points.