GOOD TIMES AHEAD FOR VILLA, SAYS TIM
ASTON VILLA manager Tim Sherwood doesn’t envisage any more relegation scraps should they get out of trouble this season. Villa remain only two points above the bottom three despite Saturday’s win but the performances of Fabian Delph, Jack Grealish and two-goal Christian Benteke hint at a brighter future should they secure their Premier League status. Sherwood said: ‘I am allowed to sign whoever I want in the summer as long as I can justify it, but I believe even if we didn’t make a signing we wouldn’t be in this position again. ‘I know I have a great opportunity here and beyond next season if we stay in the Premier League and even from a selfish point of view I don’t want anyone to take that away from me.’ There will be plenty of interest in Benteke while loan players Tom Cleverley and Scott Sinclair have yet to confirm they will make their moves to Villa Park permanent. But Sherwood thinks the club is an attractive place to be. ‘I can’t think of too many situations like Fabian Delph signing a four-year deal when he could have gone to the top four,’ he said. ‘Maybe Aston Villa is a club players want to show loyalty to. Let’s hope they all follow suit.’ Benteke’s first-half double put Villa in command but Romelu Lukaku pulled back a penalty for Everton on 59 minutes. Cleverley made it 3-1 five minutes later and although Phil Jagielka scored in injury time, Villa held on.
SUPER STAT: It is three years since Ireland ’keeper Shay Given played his last Premier League game. ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Given 6.5; Bacuna 7 (Hutton 81min), Okore 6, Vlaar 5.5, Richardson 6; Delph 8, Westwood 7 (Sanchez 75, 6), Cleverley 7; N’Zogbia 6 (Cole 90), Benteke 8.5, Grealish 8. Subs not used: Guzan, Senderos, Weimann, Sinclair. Booked: Vlaar, Given. Scorers: Benteke 10, 45, Cleverley 64. EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard 6; Coleman 5,5, Stones 6.5, Jagielka 6, Baines 6; McCarthy 6, Barry 6.5; Lennon 5.5, Naismith 6 (Osman 75, 6), Mirallas 5.5 (Barkley 75, 6); Lukaku 6. Subs not used: Robles, Alcaraz, Besic, McGeady, Kone. Booked: Coleman. Scorers: Lukaku 59 pen, Jagielka 90. Man of the match: Christian Benteke. Referee: Mark Clattenburg 6.5.