The former Tottenham coach believes his side adapted well to a vital relegation battle after claiming his first victory since taking the reins from Paul Lambert

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has joked that his side’s 2-1 win over West Brom – his first in charge of the club – is a better feeling than winning the Euromillions jackpot.

The 46-year-old guided his side to a vital three points in the first of two Midlands derbies this week, and his first since joining, after a late Christian Benteke penalty helped push Villa outside the relegation zone.

Sherwood admitted the three points are crucial for the club and as valuable as a EuroMillions lottery win.

He said: “It’s the best feeling in the world. When I left home this morning my Mrs said to me she had done the lottery euros for a £54 million jackpot. I said I’ll take three points all day. It means more to me.

“I think it shows the effort and how far we’ve come. We’ve improved every game and I think tonight was the best performance – especially in the first half.

“We dictated the pace of the game, controlled the football, moved it through midfield, created chances and should have been more than one nil up.

“We’ve got a group of players who are not really suited to a relegation battle to be honest.

“The old fashion style is blood and thunder and dig out results, so we had to change it and we have to play as if we’re not in a relegation battle and pass and move and I think we did that in the first half.”

West Brom entered the break 1-0 down, despite seeing Fabian Delph hit the post and Gabriel Agbonlahor have two attempts cleared off the line – one following a mistake from Ben Foster.

Foster’s challenge on Matt Lowton in the dying embers of the game then gifted the hosts the chance to score from the spot and Pulis admits his keeper had an off night.

He said: “I haven’t seen it but Ben should catch it anyway.

“Ben has been absolutely fantastic for us all season and he’s saved us points and won us games. He’s had an off night but there will nobody at this football club that will criticise Ben.

“I don’t have to speak to him – he knows.”

Source Goal