Aston Villa 4 West Brom 3 - match report and pictures

The striker won and scored the match-winning spot kick to settle a brilliant game which lived up to the hype.

Villa battled back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 before Albion levelled to make it 3-3 before the break.

Chris Brunt and Fabian Delph's own goal put the Baggies in charge before Andi Weimann and Leandro Bacuna equalised.

Delph fired Villa ahead before Youssouf Mulumbu hauled the visitors level again in a blistering first-half.

Victory gives the claret and blues an eight point gap to the bottom three while Albion are just three points above the Premier League drop zone.

Gabby Agbonlahor failed to recover from the foot injury suffered at Liverpool so Matt Lowton replaced him after missing the Anfield draw for disciplinary reasons.

For Albion Mulumbu replaced Zoltan Gera and Victor Anichebe came in for Matej Vydra in Pepe Mel's first away game in charge.

And the Baggies made a dream start as they scored twice inside the first nine minutes to stun Villa.

Albion had been more assured in the opening minutes and they cashed in early when Mulumbu and Liam Ridgewell worked the ball to Brunt who took two touches before smashing a brilliant half volley past Brad Guzan.

And four minutes later it was 2-0 when Chris Brunt's free kick found James Morrison and his cross was turned past Guzan by the hapless Delph.

A wild opening 11 minutes continued as Villa grabbed a lifeline when Guzan's kick was inadvertently flicked on by Claudio Yacob and Weimann lobbed Ben Foster.

It lifted Villa and Bacuna shot wide after a neat move from Weimann and Lowton before Foster saved Weimann's snap volley.

The claret and blues were on top and levelled in comical fashion on 24 minutes as Albion failed to deal with their tempo.

Benteke wriggled into the area and when it broke to Lowton he crossed for Bacuna to mis-kick into his own face from two-yards and the ball bounced in.

It was another defensive horror show for Albion and Villa completed a stunning turnaround on 38 minutes as Delph made up for his own goal.

Benteke flicked on another long ball and Delph sidestepped Steven Reid to smash in an angled drive off the bar from 15 yards.

Villa were rampant and Foster denied Benteke after he turned Jonas Olsson four minutes before the break – and Albion punished them 60 seconds later.

The hosts went to sleep as Morrison slipped in Mulumbu to slide under Guzan to cap a crazy half.

The chances continued to flow after the re-start and Diego Lugano should have restored Albion's lead instead of plant a free header wide from three yards on 55 minutes.

And the defender's night got worse when he conceded a penalty for hauling down Benteke on 64 minutes – as the striker accepted the gift by sending Foster the wrong way from the spot.

Frustrated, Albion lost their discipline as Lugano and Brunt were booked before Anichebe fired over with 20 minutes remaining.

Lugano then headed over in injury time but Villa held on to claim their first win over Albion since 2010.