Aston Villa secured a vital, and emphatic, away win, leaving the former Spurs boss purring.
Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood was understandably happy as he spoke to Sky Sports after his side routed relegation rivals Sunderland 4-0 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, a result that was all the more impressive given that the Midlands outfit hadn’t scored away from home since December before the fixture.
“We’re delighted obviously to get four goals in one game,” Sherwood said. “And for our two strikers who have come in for a little bit of criticism this year.”
The former Spurs man wasn’t just happy with the long overdue return to goals that his side demonstrated in the relegation clash, but also praised both the Villa midfield and the team’s ability to keep a clean sheet in the second half.
“I’m almost as pleased with the zero on the end of it in the second half as I was with the four goals we scored in the first half,” the ex Blackburn captain added.
“It might sound stupid, but it’s not easy to play when you’re 4-0 up, a lot easier than to when you’re 4-0 down to be honest, but I thought we were very professional. I thought the two midfield guys, Cleverley and Delph, controlled the game and picked their passes right.
“The game was won, obviously you want to go on and score 6 or 7, but we had the game won at half time and it’s important not to give it away.”
It wasn’t surprising to hear that it wasn’t easy for Villa to find themselves 4-0 up – the last time they scored that many was over a year ago.
The impressive away win pushed Villa further away from the relegation zone, which was essential given Burnley’s victory over Manchester City in the later kick off. But importantly, it also corrected Villa’s goal difference, which at the start of the day had been the weakest of the bottom five clubs. One unexpected but welcome 4-0 win later, and Sherwood’s side instead boasted the best of the Premier League’s bottom quarter.
It is two wins in a row now for Villa, and next up for them is a home game against Swansea.
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