BIRMINGHAM, England (AP):

Christian Benteke converted an injury-time penalty to earn Aston Villa a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion yesterday, ending the team's seven-match losing run in the Premier League and provisionally lifting them out of the relegation zone.

West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster fouled Matthew Lowton, and Benteke coolly stroked in the spot kick in the fourth minute of stoppage time to seal Villa's first league win since December.

"I was saying we're alive. There were people who wrote us off but we're alive and kicking," said Villa manager Tim Sherwood, who was hired last month after the team dropped into the bottom three.

"We need to bottle it up and experience it a few more times. It's the best feeling in the world. When I left home, my missus said to me she had done the Euro lottery - a 54-milllion jackpot - but I said I'd take three points all day."

Villa have been in the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa ahead in the 22nd minute of the Midlands derby, racing on to a flick-on from Benteke and shooting through Foster's legs.

Saido Berahino equalised from close range at a 66th-minute corner with his second in as many games - and with West Brom's first shot on target.