Christian Benteke gives Villa victory with last-gasp penalty

Christian Benteke's last-gasp penalty clinched a crucial 2-1 win for Aston Villa over West Brom as they escaped the relegation zone.

It was Villa's first league win since December - and Tim Sherwood's first as boss.

The home side were much the better side in the first 45 minutes and took the lead as Gabriel Agbonlahor raced onto Benteke’s knock on before slotting past Foster.

Villa went into the game without a win in seven but should have been three goals clear at the break, with Joleon Lescott clearing off the line to deny Agbonlahor a second before Fabian Delph hit the post.

And as the second half progressed it appeared that they would be made to pay for their profligacy as Saido Berahino notched his 12th Premier League goal of the season with a point-blank header.

Yet, with the Baggies seconds from securing an away point, Foster failed to hold onto a stinging effort from Delph and as the ball was returned into the box he made the fateful decision to dive at Matthew Lowton’s feet.

Referee Jonathan Moss instantly pointed to the spot, and Benteke kept his cool to side-foot home and send the Holte End into rapture.

14’ – CHANCE FOR VILLA – Foster is a lucky, lucky man as he spills an effort from Agbonlahor only to turn and collect the ball before it fully crosses the line.

23’ – GOAL FOR VILLA – Agbonlahor has his goal, as the striker latches onto Benteke’s knock down before calmly slotting under the onrushing Foster.

28’ – CHANCE FOR VILLA – Agbonlahor beats the offside trap again and despite a heavy touch manages to finish past Foster only to see Lescott get back and clear off the line.

45+1’ – DELPH HITS THE POST – The Villa skipper turns onto his right foot on the edge of the box, beating Foster with a curling effort that comes back off the far post.

56’ – CHANCE FOR WEST BROM – Chris Brunt whips in a free kick and finds an unmarked Craig Dawson, who heads inches over the bar.

66’ – GOAL FOR WEST BROM – Another Brunt delivery causes panic in the Villa defence and Lescott does brilliantly to head back across goal where Berahino is waiting to nod home.

72’ – CHANCE FOR VILLA – Alan Hutton delivers a brilliant cross from the right, but unmarked Jack Grealish side-foots straight at Foster.

88’ – OUCH! – Hutton and Berahino tangle on the touchline as the Villa full-back leaves his foot in a challenge and catches the Baggies striker. Both players see yellow but Hutton is very lucky to stay on the pitch.

90+4’ – GOAL FOR VILLA – Delph forces Foster into a good save from distance but as the ball is recycled into the box by Hutton the ball falls to Lowton and the keeper takes him out. After a slight pause Benteke keeps his composure to win the game.

Aston Villa became the last of the 92 English league clubs to win a game in 2015.

Christian Benteke (94') scored Aston Villa's latest PL penalty, beating Gareth Barry (92') in the 4-4 draw at Chelsea on Boxing Day 2007.

West Brom are now winless in nine PL away matches (D5-L4), stretching back to the 1-0 victory at Leicester City on 1 November. October 2013 to February 2014 was the last time they had a longer PL away winless run (10 matches).

West Brom are winless in all 19 PL matches played on a Tuesday (D7-L12). They have not won a Tuesday top flight match since a 2-0 victory at Watford in the old Division One on 7 May 1985 (22 matches).

Have Villa turned the corner? No-one can be in any doubt how big this victory could turn out to be for Villa. Before the game Sherwood said they needed to win six games before the end of the season to stay up, and West Brom at home would have been one of those targeted. As both QPR and Leicester have two games in hand on the hosts a draw could have been extremely damaging, but instead they are now three points clear of the drop zone. This was an uncharacteristically poor defensive display from a Tony Pulis side, but Sherwood would have been buoyed by the return to goalscoring form of both Agbonlahor and Benteke. If they can find a few more before the end of the season then Villa might just stay up.

Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa): Tired as the second half went on but ran the West Brom defence ragged in the first half, scoring one and seeing Joleon Lescott clear off the line. When he is on this form it is a wonder how he doesn't score more goals. He was backed up by a solid team performance with Christian Benteke, Fabian Delph and Ciaran Clark particularly impressive.

ASTON VILLA: Guzan 6, Hutton 5, Okore 6, Clark 7, Lowton 7, Cleverley 6, Westwood 7, Delph 8, N'Zogbia 5, Benteke 7, Agbonlahor 8. Subs: Grealish 6, Bacuna 6, Weimann 5.

WEST BROM: Foster 4, Dawson 6, Lescott 7, McAuley 6, Brunt 6, Fletcher 6, Yacob 6, Morrison 5, Berahino 7, Gardner 5, Ideye 5. Subs: Baird 5.