Don't Cha Wish Your Striker Was Benteke (or Weimann)

Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann celebrating during Tuesday's
4-1 over Norwich City in the Capital One Cup

Let's rewind back to the 10th of November where we faced Manchester United at Villa Park; the Premier League leaders finding themselves 2-0 down after 50 minutes, with Andreas Weimann scoring either side of the half time whilstle.

Aston Villa 2-3 Manchester United
"We gave it absolutely everything, we were brilliant. I can't fault the team. We've got lots of young lads in the team and they were great. I can't ask for any more from them." Paul Lambert

Villa were two goals to the good by the time United woke from their slumber. Weimann scored both to shake United to their core.

First he found Benteke with a perfectly measured ball down the left and, when his strike partner pulled back a low cross, thumped a fizzing drive past David De Gea from 16 yards out.

The interval did little to steady United as Villa began where they had left off and doubled their lead within four minutes. Ireland swept the ball left for Agbonlahor and the Villa forward's low ball skidded across the six-yard line where Weimann escaped Rio Ferdinand's attention to sidefoot in.

Villa Park was rocking and yet somehow United turned the match on its head. Ferguson's decision to replace Ashley Young with Hernandez at half-time changed the game in seven second-half minutes as United struck twice to level the match from nowhere.

For the third, Van Persie curled a free-kick towards the far post where Hernandez headed the ball into the bottom-right corner with unerring accuracy. Ferguson's clenched fist at the final whistle said it all, United had done it again despite the efforts of Villa.

Manchester City 5-0 Aston Villa

Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez both scored twice as Manchester City thumped Aston Villa to move top of the Premier League for the first time this season.

Villa frustrated City until David Silva broke the deadlock before half-time. But the hosts took charge when Andreas Weimann was adjudged to have handled and Sergio Aguero scored from the spot.

Carlos Tevez added another penalty after Barry Bannan's handball, Aguero made it 4-0 with a deflected shot and Tevez tapped in Samir Nasri's cross.

In the end, this win for the champions was every bit as convincing as the scoreline suggests but Villa boss Paul Lambert will argue his side were in the game until the 54th minute, when City scored their second goal from a debatable decision.

Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal
"It's a long project. It's never going to happen overnight. I thought today we were well worth something. They are a young side but they are growing every time they play." Paul Lambert

Aston Villa 1-0 Reading
The Belgian striker, Christian Benteke headed in the winner from a corner late on to leave the Royals one place off the bottom.

Villa, who left striker Darren Bent out of the team for the second match in succession, also went close through Andreas Weimann and Ciaran Clark.

QPR 1-1 Aston Villa
Brett Holman fired Villa into an early lead from 20 yards - but Jamie Mackie headed QPR level before the interval and they created the better opportunities to finally secure three points.

Aston Villa 0-0 Stoke City
Most of us thought it would be tight and probably goalless - and that's how it proved. All Villa's chances fell to Christian Benteke but great blocks by Stoke's defence kept him out. Darren Bent came on for the last 20 minutes but hardly had a sniff. As for Stoke, 90 minutes and not a single shot to test Brad Guzan. This is one best forgotten.

Norwich City 1-4 Aston Villa

Aston Villa reached their second League Cup semi-final in four years by beating Norwich City and in turn handed boss Paul Lambert victory on his first visit back to his former club.

Steve Morison gave Norwich the lead by clipping over Shay Given before Brett Holman's drive levelled matters. Both sides had a number of chances to take the lead in a frenetic tie. But substitute Andreas Weimann's late double and a tidy Christian Benteke strike saw Villa through.

Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa

"I think the whole performance was fabulous, the goals were excellent as was the way we defended." Paul Lambert 

 

Liverpool were left stunned after their hopes of challenging for a top-four spot were hit by a loss to Aston Villa.

The home side went behind against the run of play when Christian Benteke arrowed a shot in off the post. Benteke's backheel set up Andreas Weimann for Villa's second, before the Reds were denied a penalty when Ciaran Clark pulled Daniel Agger's shirt. Benteke then made it three from close range for a resurgent Villa before Steven Gerrard netted a late consolation goal.