That's handy – Andi Weimann ends worrying Aston Villa goals drought

A 15-game barren streak eclipsed Benteke's 12-game bleak run as Weimann struggled to recapture the form which saw him plunder 12 goals last season.

But – along with Benteke – the Austrian feels reborn after scoring against Liverpool and Albion ended his goal famine.

They were his first strikes since the winner against Manchester City in September and his cool finish against the Baggies on Wednesday sparked a comeback which saw Villa clinch a derby thriller 4-3 .

They go to Everton tomorrow on the back of a scintillating win with Weimann back in form. Rather than panic, the striker insisted he relied on his own self-belief.

"You know what you can do and hopefully it will turn around; luckily it did," said Weimann.

"It's not easy when you're not scoring and you're trying to perform to your best. I knew I could do it, I did it last year and I just had to believe in that and in the last few games I've showed it.

"Every game you score a goal as a striker you get more confident and now I've got two in two, hopefully I can carry that on.

"In football you always say it doesn't matter how old you are – if you are good enough, then you'll play. That's what I think."

Weimann and Benteke have rediscovered the scoring touch together with Benteke's penalty winner on Wednesday his third goal in three games after four months without netting.

Benteke scored 15 goals in the second half of last season and Weimann believes the Belgian can repeat the feat.

He said: "I hope so, if he does it'll be good for us.

"We always knew Christian is a really good player and once he scored a goal he would score again. He's got three in three, so hopefully he will keep going.

"Like I said for myself, if you score goals as a striker you get the confidence back and your game improves. He's a massive player for us and we're happy he's back to form."

Victory at Goodison Park tomorrow could extend Villa's lead over the bottom three to 11 points and boss Paul Lambert says they must target a top-10 finish, something with which Weimann agrees.

"We're 10th and everything is tight but we're looking good, we're playing well and we'll try to get as many points as we can," said the 22-year-old.

"It's looking good, not just points-wise but we're playing well – the second half against Arsenal, Liverpool and now Wednesday, so we're confident. If we keep that going, we'll be fine."

Victory was just Villa's third home league win – and first since beating Cardiff in November – and Weimann believes they can use it as a platform. "That's what everyone's talking about, that we're not winning at home," he said.

"We want to get as many points as possible and it doesn't matter if they are home or away – but we want to win in front of our own fans.

"We know we can win the games, luckily it came off."

In contrast to Villa, Everton were crushed 4-0 by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. Weimann is wary of a backlash from the sixth-placed Toffees, who won 2-0 at Villa Park in October.

He said: "It was a hard defeat for them in their derby and they'll want to bounce back, but we know that and we'll go there with the attitude to try to win.

"I'm sure they'll look to Saturday to recover – but we'll have to stop them doing it."

Gabby Agbonlahor is out with a foot injury amid fears he could be sidelined for weeks after tumbling over the advertising boards at Liverpool two weeks ago.

Injury-hit Everton are without Romelu Lukaku (ankle), Bryan Oviedo (broken leg), Arouna Koné and Darron Gibson (both knee), Seamus Coleman and Sylvain Distin and Gerard Deulofeu (hamstrings). Lacina Traore could make his debut after signing on loan from Monaco.