Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood doesn't envisage any more relegation scraps at the club should they get out of trouble this season.

Villa remained only two points above the bottom three despite Saturday's win but the performances of Fabian Delph, Jack Grealish and two-goal Christian Benteke hinted at a much brighter future should they secure their Premier League status.

Sherwood agrees. 'I am allowed to sign whoever I want in the summer as long as I can justify it, but I believe even if we didn't make a signing we wouldn't be in this position again,' he said.

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood doesn't envisage any more relegation scraps if they escape this year

Sherwood has been encouraged by his side's showings of late and doesn't want to experience relegation

'I know I have a great opportunity here and beyond next season if we stay in the Premier League and even from a selfish point of view I don't want anyone to take that away from me.'

There will be plenty of interest in Benteke while loan players Tom Cleverley and Scott Sinclair have yet to confirm they will make their moves to Villa Park permanent.

But Sherwood thinks the club is an attractive place to be at. 'I can't think of too many situations like Fabian Delph signing a four-deal when he could have gone to the top four,' he said. 'Maybe Aston Villa is a club players want to show loyalty to. Let's hope they all follow suit.'

Villa are unrecognisable from the side who struggled to score goals under Paul Lambert earlier in the season. In under three months, Sherwood has lifted them above the bottom three and reached an FA Cup final, playing in a style that has seen the atmosphere return to Villa Park.

'I think performances have gradually got better since I have been here,' he said, before warning: 'It helps when you entertain but you don't want to entertain all the way to the Championship.

'I'd take three scrappy 1-0s to stay up but having said that we haven't been conceding more goals in recent weeks anyway, we've just scored more.'

Sherwood offers his applause to the fans at Villa Park on Saturday after another impressive victory

Benteke's form in the remaining three league games against West Ham, Southampton and Burnley will be vital. The Belgian has hit 11 goals in his last nine matches and team-mate Leandro Bacuna acknowledges: 'He needed a few games to get back to his best after injuries but he is scoring goals and we need a player like him to finish the games off.

'It is great to have someone like him. He is really confident at the moment and everything he touches turns to goals.

'We are good friends. I live only a minute away and when he was injured I'd go around his place and tell him to keep his chin up. He can't leave — I need a lift from him into training!'

Benteke's first-half double put Villa in command, though they had to overcome some jittery moments later on.

Christian Benteke's first-half double put Villa in command and he has been in excellent form recently

Benteke is on fire and making a huge difference for his team in the battle against relegation this year

Romelu Lukaku pulled back a penalty for Everton after 59 minutes and though Tom Cleverley made it 3-1 five minutes later, Phil Jagielka scored a controversial goal in injury-time past Villa's recalled 39-year-old goalkeeper Shay Given to set up a tense finale. Given claimed he'd been fouled in the build-up to the final goal.

While Benteke is on fire, Everton's own Belgian centre-forward Lukaku remains inconsistent. Despite a couple of bulldozing runs, there was little end product from the £28million striker who hasn't scored a Premier League goal in open play since January though he has scored 19 in all competitions this season.

His manager Roberto Martinez believes his overall form is good. He said: 'I think Romelu has been even better than last season since January. It was a difficult season to start with because he came back from the World Cup and it is always hard for a young player to find their level after that.

Roberto Martinez believes Romelu Lukaku's overall form is good despite his lack of goals since January

'Rom is a player who needs to be physically sharp and strong. He has been really important for us and his displays this year have been strong.'