HERO BENTEKE SAVES TIM
Treble stops QPR dumping Villa boss in the bottom three
TIM SHERWOOD’S jacket did not survive beyond the first 10 minutes and after this astonishing contest it remains to be seen if either of these sides fares much better.
When Aston Villa’s animated manager threw his gilet to the ground in celebration at the sight of Christian Benteke’s first-half equaliser, he probably rather hoped his players were man enough to remain in the Barclays Premier League after all.
Indeed, when he then saw Benteke convert the second of his three goals after 33 minutes, he may have felt his damning critique on Monday had provoked exactly the response he was looking for.
But the grit, desire and determination his forwards had demonstrated was lacking at the opposite end of the field and a QPR side every bit as desperate to maintain their topflight status did a fine job of exposing precisely the weaknesses Sherwood had highlighted.
If it made for a hugely entertaining encounter, it must have been hell for the managers however friendly they might claim to be. Sherwood walked off the pitch at half-time with his hands planted casually in his pockets, comforted by the fact that his side were sitting five points clear of relegation danger.
But when Charlie Austin followed Clint Hill’s second-half equaliser with a third goal for the visitors, Villa had replaced Chris Ramsey’s spirited side in the bottom three.
Only 12 minutes remained and even if Benteke required just five more minutes to score again with a terrific free-kick the overriding feeling in the Villa ranks was more one of frustration than relief. Benteke did not look like a man who wanted to enjoy his hat-trick at the sound of the final whistle. On the contrary, he looked devastated.
Both sides have some difficult games ahead but when Tottenham and Manchester City come next for Villa, there is plenty to concern Sherwood. A replay of QPR’s goals will not make pleasant viewing. The failure to close down Bobby Zamora before he delivered the cross that enabled Matt Phillips to strike after seven minutes. The failure to challenge Hill (right) and so stop him scoring his first Premier League goal. The failure, too, to respond to the threat being posed by Austin, who was allowed to take a touch to control the cross from Phillips before driving the ball past Brad Guzan.
Such frailties could yet drag Villa down this season and Sherwood knows it. ‘We are not equipped unfortunately to go anywhere and dig out a result,’ he complained afterwards and on this evidence he would appear to be right.
At times his side were excellent, thrilling their supporters with a tremendous first-half display. The players he was probably referring to as ‘the icing on the cake’ were giving him plenty of cause for celebration. They were attacking with great flair and finesse, with the pace of individuals like Gabriel Agbonlahor and Leandro Bacuna and the sheer power of Benteke.
The call for more men made Sherwood’s selection of 19-year-old Jack Grealish somewhat curious. But the teenager, too, was performing well. More than man enough for the occasion. As a game it was something of an emotional rollercoaster, even if the warmth of the embrace between Sherwood and Ramsey before kick- off was soon replaced by the cold reality of a dire situation for both teams.
Never one to hide his feelings, Sherwood responded to QPR’s opening goal by unzipping the aforementioned gilet in disgust. It was understandable, given how meekly his defenders tried to stop Zamora from delivering the cross Phillips headed home from close range. Only three minutes later and the same gilet was off altogether, Sherwood throwing it to the ground after seeing Benteke’s shot take a nasty deflection off Mauricio Isla’s trailing foot and loop over Rob Green. The drama in the technical area added to the sense of excitement around Villa Park. The atmosphere was electric, the place almost erupting again when Grealish so nearly marked his first league start with a goal after Benteke delivered a perfect ball, only for Green to save at his feet. Sherwood’s decision to play a midfield diamond and exploit the pace of his attackers was working well. Not everyone seemed to agree and at one stage Sherwood seemed to be placating a fan who did not seem quite so impressed.
But his team were playing with real verve, with Benteke scoring a second after 33 minutes with a goal that owed as much to the speed, vision and courage of Agbonlahor as the precision of the finish. Agbonlahor was just quick enough to send Benteke clear before being hacked down by Sandro, and remained curled up in a ball while his colleague raced towards goal. Benteke finished cleverly, shaping to shoot beyond Hill before dragging his effort back inside the QPR defender and beyond the reach of a wrong-footed Green.
Sherwood said Ramsey was one of the finest coaches he had worked with and he certainly impressed here. He had seen how his forwards had been starved of service in the first half and responded after six minutes of the second by making two substitutions. It had the desired effect, Hill equalising four minutes later; punishment for what appeared to be Bacuna’s failure to stay with his man. Austin’s goal, his 17th in the league this season, would be a further source of concern, even if Benteke did then level for a second time with a wonderful free-kick that beat Green via the inside of a post.
Are they man enough? Only time will tell.