Dublin’s 99th goal forces Taylor to remember his “forgotten striker”

Aston Villa 3 Everton 2

The future of the 33-year-old has been unsettled after he spent time on loan at Millwall last season and has been on the fringes of the first team during the start of the new campaign.

It was Dublin’s introduction as a substitute with nine minutes left which ended Everton’s stirring comeback, and he hooked in a corner to settle the game 3-2 in Villa’s favour.

Taylor said: ‘‘Dion’s now got his 99th Premiership goals so he obviously wants another one and he’s now got a good target to aim for - not too many strikers have 100.

‘‘To some people outside the club he has become partly a forgotten man but he represents what I have said to everyone else in his situation such as Alan Wright or Steve Stone, and that is to be ready when your time comes.

‘‘That’s the whole business of having a squad and you may not be involved, and you may wonder what’s happening but you’re under contract at the club and you have to be ready when the time comes. Dion has been first class at that.’’

Villa had taken a 2-0 lead with two excellent strikes by Lee Hendrie but Everton forced their way back into the game through Tomasz Radzinski and Kevin Campbell. The visitors then crumbled and made several errors before Dublin finally pounced.

The three points came as a huge relief to Taylor, who had been forced to endure his side losing the Birmingham derby on Monday.

Taylor added: ‘‘If you lose a two-goal lead at home when you have just lost the previous game to your local rivals then your fans are not going to be very happy.

‘‘When Everton equalised it looked like only one side would win it - but I’ve got to give the players credit for showing great character.

‘‘You make your own luck - but it looked like we were going to buckle.’’

It was also an important game for Hendrie, who has been in and out of the team himself, and the midfielder said: ‘‘I missed the big game at Birmingham and needed to show I could stay in the team.

‘‘I’ve never scored two goals in a game before so it’s pleasing. If I keep scoring hopefully I will be picked.” Dublin added: ‘‘I went to Millwall for six or seven weeks last season but never thought of leaving Villa. Now I’m back in the frame and it’s nice to get a goal.’’

Everton boss David Moyes said he and all the players were ‘‘sick’’ at the defeat. ASTON VILLA: Enckelman, Mellberg, Barry, Staunton, Johnsen, De la Cruz (Leonhardsen 75), Kinsella, Hendrie, Samuel, Crouch (Dublin 81), Vassell (Moore 82).

EVERTON: Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Gravesen, Tie Li, Pembridge, Rooney (Alexandersson 77), Campbell, Radzinski.

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).