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Beating West Brom better than winning the lottery, says Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood

Tim Sherwood
Image: Tim Sherwood: Celebrates his first win in charge at Villa Park

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood said getting three points against West Bromwich Albion in the west Midlands derby on Tuesday night was more important than winning the lottery.

Christian Benteke's injury-time penalty, after Ben Foster brought down Matthew Lowton, clinched Sherwood's first success as Villa boss.

The 2-1 result at Villa Park also ended a seven-game losing run for Villa and moved them three points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Sherwood felt his pulse and gestured to the Villa fans as he walked off and believes the strugglers are fighting again.

"It's the best feeling in the world," he said in his post-match press conference. "When I left home my missus said to me she had done the Euro lottery - a £54m jackpot - but I said I'd take three points all day.

"We need to bottle it up and experience it a few more times. There were people who wrote us off but we're alive and kicking. People will look at that result but the performance was great.

Tim Sherwood
Image: Tim Sherwood: Celebrates his first win in charge at Villa Park

"It shows the effort and how far we have come, we have improved every game. It was the best performance. We dictated the pace of the game in the first half and it should have been more than 1-0."

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Benteke scored in the league for the first time since December and Sherwood admitted the striker had told him exactly what he would do with a penalty.

"Goalscorers are there to be shot down and it takes a brave man to stand up there. I asked him before the game if he gets a penalty what he was going to do," Sherwood added.

"He said 'I'll wait until the goalie goes down and I'll roll it in the corner'. I was still peeping through my fingers."

Gabby Agbonlahor opened the scoring and had two cleared off the line, while also having a penalty claim ignored after he beat Foster to the ball.

Saido Berahino had equalised in the second half before the late drama which left Albion 13th in the table.

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