Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood hailed his strikers after victory over Sunderland.

Christian Benteke set the ball rolling with a neat 16th-minute shot from Leandro Bacuna's pull-back and after Gabriel Agbonlahor had helped himself to a double, followed suit a minute before the break with a powerful header which gave bemused goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon no chance.

"I've not taken too much notice of Aston Villa prior to coming here," said Sherwood.

"I couldn't really comment on what's happened previously.

"We've not had trouble scoring goals since I've been here.

"I'm pleased you guys are talking about Agbonlahor and Benteke in that light because all I've heard is 'why aren't they scoring the goals?'

"I think they've taken some unfair criticism to be honest. If you create chances for those two fellas they will score. The team has been creating enough. They showed today they're quite clinical in front of goal."