Sherwood played down the visit of Sunderland though, insisting no-one should read much into any early result as Villa look to avoid another season of struggle.
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“There are things you have to accept and I have to continue to develop”.
“Adama has not trained since Tuesday – and he won’t train today”, Sherwood said on Friday.
“Some moments of the game were okay, but the majority of the match, Aston Villa were the better team”.
Despite some fine defending, Sunderland was forced to ride its luck and only a Costel Pantilimon save kept the sides on level terms eight minutes from time, palming Ashley Westwood’s goal-bound effort away following Rudy Gestede’s knock-down and preserving a point.
“Anyone who watched that game knows we should’ve taken all three points”.
He said: ‘It’s an important game but I’m not sure it’s a landmark.
Villa made their pressure pay four minutes before half-time when Idrissa Gueye set Jordan Amavi free down the left and Sinclair got between two defenders inside the six-yard box to divert his low cross into the roof of the net.
He has found a home in Belgium, being named the domestic league’s Player of the Year last season, while also playing a key part in Brugge’s Europa League campaign, which eventually ended at the hands of runners-up Dnipro, who lost to Sevilla in the final. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish – and how you perform in the middle would help.
In team news, Villa will be hoping Scott Sinclair can carry over his form from the cup, having bagged a hat-trick against Exeter, but Gary Gardner and Jores Okore miss out with ankle and knee injuries respectively.
Injuries to Daniels, Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel hampered Bournemouth in the second half and its woes deepened four minutes from time as Vardy’s spot-kick denied them a maiden top-flight home win.
The Spaniard attracted yet more fans with his performances against Manchester United in the Champions League qualifier, which the Premier League club eventually dominated 7-1.
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If Aston Villa fail to win this match, Tim Sherwood’s Premier League win ratio will fall below 50% for the first time ever (in his 39th game).
