Tim Sherwood hails Christian Benteke, Gabriel Agbonlahor after win over Sunderland

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has praised Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor after each netted twice each in his side's thumping 4-0 win over Sunderland today.

The Villans scored all of their goals in the first half as Benteke fired them ahead in the 16th minute before Agbolanhor scored twice to put the game beyond the Black Cats, and the Belgian added his second just before the break.

Sherwood's men moved six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone courtesy of the victory, but the 45-year-old has stressed that there is still a lot of work to be done to beat the drop this season.

He told the club's official website: "I actually thought we were slow starting in the first 10 minutes. But we worked all week on a quick counter and it proved to be the difference.

"We are delighted to get four goals in one game and for our two strikers to get two apiece. They have come under a bit of criticism this season, I think unfairly so. If you create them the chances, they score the goals and they proved that today.

"There's a long way to go. I just told the guys that in the dressing room. But we're dragging people in with us and underneath us. That's important. There's still a lot of hard work to be done. But this is a great step."

Villa have moved above Sunderland into 16th place in the Premier League table, with nine games remaining this season.