A last-gasp Christian Benteke penalty handed Tim Sherwood his first win as Aston Villa manager and lifted his side out of the English Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 home victory over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Sadio Mane struck late to rejuvenate Southampton’s fading battle for UEFA Champions League qualification with a 1-0 home win against Crystal Palace to move them into fifth, while Sunderland came from behind to draw 1-1 at Hull City.
Aston Villa, who have never been relegated during the Premier League era, started the day second-from-bottom and on a seven-game losing streak, their worst run in 52 years.
In his third game in charge, Sherwood avoided equaling Dick Taylor’s 1964 record of losing his opening three league matches in dramatic circumstances.
Gabriel Agbonlahor struck his first goal in 14 games to open the scoring after 22 minutes, latching onto Benteke’s knock-on to slot through the legs of goalkeeper Ben Foster, sparking wild celebrations from Sherwood.
Fabian Delph nearly extended their lead, but he hit the post with a long-range, curling effort before the visitors equalized after 67 minutes when Saido Berahino headed in from close range. It was the young striker’s 12th league goal of the season.
Just as the match looked to be heading for a draw, Foster brought down Matthew Lowton to concede a penalty and Belgium striker Benteke stepped up to coolly roll the ball in from the spot four minutes into stoppage-time.
It was Villa’s first win in 13 league games and lifted them into 17th place on 25 points, three above the relegation zone.
The two sides meet again in an FA Cup quarter-final at Villa Park on Saturday.
Southampton, who had won once and scored just one goal in their past five games prior to kick off, ended a wait of more than six hours for a goal at St Mary’s when Mane struck in the 83rd minute.
In what was a low-quality encounter, Mane produced a deft chip over Julian Speroni after the Palace goalkeeper parried a shot from substitute James Ward-Prowse.
Victory lifted Southampton to 49 points, one point outside the top four and a spot in European soccer’s elite club competition next season.
Hull City’s Dame N’Doye, a deadline day signing, scored his third goal in five games to give them the lead against Sunderland with an exquisite flick after 15 minutes.
The visitors then had manager Gus Poyet sent to the stands after a heated touchline exchange with his opposite number Steve Bruce.
Jack Rodwell headed in a equalizer with 13 minutes left to keep Sunderland in 16th place on 26 points, four above the relegation places and one point below Hull.
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