Ace predator Bent makes a point for Villa

Aston Villa 1 West Brom 1

While both had cause for satisfaction after an absorbing West Midlands derby ended with honours deservedly shared, the real winner was potentially England coach Roy Hodgson.

Darren Bent’s late equaliser — his 150th league goal — was a calling-card ahead of England’s World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland later this month and Hodgson, in attendance, will have taken note.

Bent has not been a strong consideration for England since Hodgson took over and is now having to prove himself at club level after being left out of Villa’s Premier League starting line-up for the first time by Lambert, who earlier this season stripped the player of the captaincy.

Coming off the bench to rescue Villa a point, Bent was clearly intent on making a strong one of his own.

“It would have been nice to go from the start,” said Bent. “But I managed to get the goal so it gets us a point.

“It’s been a difficult couple of weeks, losing the captaincy first off and then finding out today I wasn’t playing. But I thought the boys played fantastically well and we deserved a point.”

Lambert, meanwhile, suggested Bent’s goal vindicated his decisions — and denied any ill-feeling between him and the player, after Bent appeared reluctant to accept the congratulations of his manager at the final whistle

“Darren was stripped of the captaincy because I wanted to leave him to concentrate on his goalscoring. He took his goal brilliantly and that’s what he does,” said Lambert.

“He has got nothing to prove here. He has been great about it and knows he is every bit as important as everyone else here. He understands that and there are no problems.”

Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster produced two brilliant saves — both from Brett Holman — to prevent Villa going ahead in the first half.

Albion’s Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long made amends for an early miss when he fired the visitors in front after 51 minutes. The Tipp man accepted a chance he simply could not miss when Villa defender Ron Vlaar, attempting to guide away James Morrison’s low cross, helped the ball into his path and he rolled it in from four yards.

Bent joined the foray with 22 minutes left and 10 minutes later made his mark, typically poaching inside the six-yard box after Ciaran Clark’s shot had been blocked.

Albion substitute Romelu Lukaku shaved a post before Bent almost clinched Villa victory when he fired over three minutes from the end. Albion boss Clarke said: “The players are disappointed to come to Villa and only get a point. That’s speaks volumes about where the club has come from and where we are now.”

ASTON VILLA: Guzan 6, Lowton 6, Vlaar 6, Clark 6, Bennett 7, Albrighton 6 (N’Zogbia 66, 6) Holman 7, El Ahmadi 6, Delph 6 (Bannan 71, 6), Agbonlahor 6, Benteke 5 (Bent 68, 7).

WEST BROM: Foster 8, Jones 6 (Tamas 45, 6), McAuley 6, Olsson 7, Popov 6, Morrison 7, Mulumbu 6, Yacob 6, Brunt 6 (Dorrans 40, 6), Gera 6, Long 6 (Lukaku 72, 5).

Referee: Anthony Taylor 6.