LOWTON STUNNER HELPS VILLA SOAR
MATTHEW LOWTON produced a Goal of the Season contender that could tip Premier League survival in Aston Villa’s favour.
With only three minutes left and two precious points slipping away from a match they had dominated, the right-back chose the ideal time to pull Paul Lambert’s team out of the bottom three.
A corner was cleared to him a good 30 yards from goal, where he controlled the ball on his chest and hit an unstoppable volley that was in all the way off his right foot.
Lowton has played every minute of his first Premier League season after joining from Sheffield United last summer, but he will not make a bigger contribution to Villa’s season than that.
The victory ensured the Villans jumped above Sunderland and Wigan, who play this afternoon, and out of the bottom three.
And it also dragged Stoke into the relegation dogfight as the Potters’ post- Christmas slump stretched to just one win in 13 League games.
Tony Pulis’ men are four points above the bottom three, but teams below them have games in hand.
They needed a good start here and felt they should have had a penalty inside the first two minutes when Jon Walters’ cross hit an outstretched arm of Nathan Baker at close range.
But referee Mark Clattenburg felt that it wasn’t intentional, and waved away the protests.
It became even more pivotal, as Villa’s first meaningful attack brought a rich reward.
Lowton linked up well with Jordan Bowery down the right, and picked out Gabriel Agbonlahor, who scored at the second attempt from close range.
Bowery nearly capitalised on hesitancy in home ranks as he was allowed to carry the ball before curling his shot into the side netting. Villa were dangerous on the break and Agbonlahor could have had a second when he was found by Christian Benteke inside the box, but his effort rolled just beyond the post.
And they were desperately unlucky not to double their lead on the half-hour mark.
Andreas Weimann accelerated through a large gap in the home defence and would have scored except for the faintest of touches from goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to turn it onto a post.
Another mistake presented Agbonlahor with a clear run on goal, but he overran the ball when trying to round Begovic.
The forward went to ground in delayed fashion trying to win a penalty, and was deservedly booked for a pathetic dive.
The visitors continued to create chances after the break, and only a strong save by Begovic denied Bowery his first Villa goal.
When Stoke finally put together a decent attack, Kenwyne Jones scuffed his shot horribly after good work by Cameron Jerome.
They had craved a bit of creativity all afternoon, and it was finally provided by Charlie Adam, just three minutes after his arrival.
The Scot took a pass from Jon Walters inside the area and squeezed a ball out for fellow sub Michael Kightly to sweep past Brad Guzan.
It looked like it might salvage a point until Lowton’s wonder strike, and then Benteke wrapped up proceedings with a clinical finish in injury time.