Christian Benteke's penalty in added time helped Aston Villa on their way to a vital 2-1 victory over rivals West Bromwich Albion in this evening's West Midlands derby.

The Villans were the better side throughout, and they deservedly took the lead courtesy of Gabriel Agbonlahor's well-taken strike with just short of a quarter of the match played.

West Brom hit back through Saido Berahino's close-range header, though, and it looked as if the spoils would be shared until Benteke converted from the spot at the death after Ben Foster felled an opponent inside the box.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how both sets of players performed during the 90 minutes of action at Villa Park.

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ASTON VILLA

Goal

Brad Guzan: Just the one shot on target across the 90 minutes from Albion which made this one of the American stopper's easier evenings between the sticks. (6/10)

Defence

Matthew Lowton: Deputising in place of the injured Aly Cissokho and Kieran Richardson at left-back, it was his bravery to get forward when his side were chasing a late goal which resulted in the Villans winning a dramatic penalty. (7/10)

Jores Okore: One big interception aside, the centre-back looked shaky whenever he was called into action. In the early stages in particular a number of his clearances failed to find the mark. (6/10)

Ciaran Clark: Covered well for his partner at the back and won a number of key headers, including eight alone in the opening 45 minutes. Also managed to cut out a Morrison cross just as West Brom were beginning to build pressure, which eventually led to their equaliser. (7/10)

Alan Hutton: Did well to get into advanced areas, while also trying his luck with a couple of long-range shots. Picked up a yellow card in the second half which will see him sit out the Villans' next two games, although he was perhaps lucky to avoid seeing a straight red. (6/10)

Midfield

Tom Cleverley: One of his better games in a Villa shirt, providing the pass to Benteke which led to the home side's opener. Solid passing although you would like to see him be a little more adventurous at times, which may explain why he was replaced at 1-1. (7/10)

Ashley Westwood: Misplaced just one pass in the first half which shows what his game is all about. Recovered the ball on nine occasions during the match as he helped things tick over in the engine room. (7/10)

Fabian Delph: A few promising moments, with his shot which cannoned back off the post the closest he came to leaving his mark on the game. Signs that he is returning to the form which helped him earn a call-up to the England national squad last year. (7/10)

Attack

Gabriel Agbonlahor: The best player on the field due to his energetic bursts forward and ability to make something happen. Scored his first goal in 14 outings which worked as a springboard to push on, seeing another shot saved off the line shortly after as he went in search of a second. (8/10)

Christian Benteke: While his attacking teammate ended a barren run in front of goal, Benteke also managed to notch his first strike since mid-December this evening. That may have been his most telling contribution, although he also had an assist to his name after flicking on for Agbonlahor to convert. (8/10)

Charles N'Zogbia: The sole change to the starting lineup tonight, the Frenchman certainly looked improved in terms of past performances but still needs to do a lot more to warrant a starting berth (6/10)

Substitutes

Leonardo Bacuna: Could have been the hero late on only for his shot to be kept out by Foster in the build-up to the late penalty decision. (6/10)

Andreas Weimann: Seemed a little strange to bring him on in place of Agbonlahor although, indirectly at least, it seemed to work with Villa going on to win the game. (6/10)

Jack Grealish: Certainly involved after being introduced, forcing Foster into making a stop with a shot on the volley in what was his first appearance since New Year's Day. (7/10)

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WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Goal

Ben Foster: Caught out on so many occasions in the first half, just about saving one shot off the line but having less luck with Agbonlahor's next attempt. Was fortunate not to have seen a penalty awarded against him when he brought down his compatriot but he failed to learn his lesson and it was his howler which cost his team a share of the spoils late on. (2/10)

Defence

Craig Dawson: Did well enough in defence, yet his most telling contribution should have come at the other end when he nodded over a free kick from point-blank range. (6/10)

Gareth McAuley: Got outdone by the Benteke-Agbonlahor combo for the opening goal and failed to help clear away for what proved to be the winning goal from the spot at the end. He is not to blame individually, and he should be cut some slack with West Brom going 440 minutes without conceding prior to Villa's opener. (6/10)

Joleon Lescott: He has scored more goals against the Villans than any other opponent he has come up against, and the former Manchester City defender yet again made a telling contribution against his boyhood club. It came in attack rather than defence, with his assist for Berahino's goal his first since October 2011. (7/10)

Chris Brunt: At left-back once more, and he ended the game with a pass-completion rate of just 53.7%. That is clearly down to the instructions of his manager, who wants him to hit balls high into the corner for advanced players to latch on to. That ploy did not work at Villa Park tonight. His crossing did lead to a couple of chances, however, including the equaliser. (5/10)

Midfield

Craig Gardner: Certainly got under the skin of Villa supporters with his pre-match comments, but it was those watching on from the stands who had the last laugh. Struggled to get going throughout the contest. (6/10)

Claudio Yacob: Indirectly at fault for the attack which led to Villa's penalty, while his uninspiring play certainly saw him go under the radar for the rest of the derby clash. (5/10)

Darren Fletcher: His first defeat as an Albion player, but he cannot really be blamed for this reverse. Stuck to the task well enough, although he perhaps could have done more in a creative sense. (6/10)

James Morrison: Produced a couple of half-decent crosses from his starting position out on the right, but more was needed from him to help his side get out of first gear for large parts of the contest. (6/10)

Attack

Brown Ideye: The in-form Nigerian striker was expected to miss out on the short trip due to injury, and he was clearly not fully fit having been on the periphery for much of the contest. (5/10)

Saido Berahino: Retaliated when on the end of Hutton's studs up challenge late on which earned him a booking. Like his strike-partner he was barely involved all game, the difference being that he still found a way through despite being off song. That is now 12 for the season, just two short of Harry Kane's 14. (6/10)

Substitutes

Chris Baird: Brought on with a couple of minutes remaining to help shore up the defence, yet it was while he was on the field that Villa went on to bag a decisive second. Not directly his fault, of course, and he was barely on long enough to make an impression. (5/10)