His replacement Michael Owen's off-target header rebounded into the net off the body of hapless center-back Zat Knight in just the fifth minute, and summer signing Antonio Valencia scored his first goal for the club just after half an hour.
Friedel made amends for his error as he tipped over a chip from Deco and then denied Drogba at point-blank range, then seven minutes into the second half Dunne's fellow center-back James Collins put Villa ahead from another Young corner as he was left unmarked at the far post.