TAMMY WIN IT

Abraham double threatens Withe’s scoring record

PETER WITHE may well be listening in through the middle of the night in Australia when his 38-year-old landmark is eclipsed.

Withe, now 67, was the last Aston Villa player to score 20 league goals in a season – in 1980-81, when they beat Ipswich to the old First Division title.

Now Tammy Abraham is on the brink of becoming the next to hit the mark after his double against the Tractor Boys took his season’s total to 19.

Withe, currently living in Perth, returns to England regularly and still goes to Villa Park – so he might even see Abraham perform the feat live.

Yet Villa boss Dean Smith believes his striker should have had it done and dusted yesterday.

“Abraham should be walking away with the match ball and his 20th and 21st goals,” said Smith.

“It’s about time the record went. It’s been too long, right back to when as a Villa fan I was watching Peter Withe.

“Abraham will thoroughly deserve it when he gets there, but he won’t settle for 20.”

A few weeks ago Abraham, on loan from Chelsea, was on the verge of joining Wolves – and Smith is relieved Villa persuaded him to stay.

“He’s just proving he is a Premier League player playing in the Championship for us,” said Smith. “He’s enjoying his football. He’s got a smile on his face.”

Angry Ipswich manager Paul Lambert, on his first return to Villa Park since his sacking four years ago, claimed Villa should never have been given the 61st-minute penalty Abraham tucked away.

Referee Keith Stroud ruled Alan Judge fouled John Mcginn, but Lambert said: “That was never, never a penalty.”

Lambert (below) was also furious after Stroud denied his bottom of the table side a spot-kick after Tommy Elphick appeared to handle to stop Collin Quaner’s 73rd-minute shot going in.

“That’s a blatant hand ball,” raged Lambert, “It’s an unbelievable decision. That’s two big moments the ref has missed. I want to hear his explanation.”

Abraham’s first came after six minutes and he was helped by Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski not coming for Conor Hourihane’s free-kick.

Bialkowski otherwise stood up well in what was often a one-man battle against Villa’s hot striker.

Freddie Sears’ 25-yard scorcher 14 minutes from time gave Ipswich hope but Villa held on for only their second win in nine league games.

ASTON VILLA: Kalinic 6; Hutton 6, Elphick 6, Chester 6, Taylor 6; Whelan 6 (Kodjia 78), Hourihane 7, Mcginn 7; Adomah 6 (Elmohamady 68, 5), Abraham 9, El Ghazi 6 (Jedinak 85). Subs not used: Steer, Davis, Hause, O’hare. IPSWICH TOWN: Bialkowski 8; Pennington 6, Chambers 6, Collins 7,Kenlock 6;Chalobah 7 (Jackson 90), Skuse 6, Downes 5; Sears 5, Keane 5 (Quaner 62,5) , Judge 5 Subs not used: Gerken, Nolan, Bishop, Nsiala, Elder. MAN OF THE MATCH: Tammy Abraham. In form and just full of goals. REFEREE: Keith Stroud 6.