Aston Villa 3-3 QPR: Christian Benteke slams hat-trick in pulsating draw as strugglers fight for Premier League survival

• Matt Phillips gave QPR a seventh-minute lead in the crunch clash at Villa Park

• But that lead only lasted three minutes, with Christian Benteke equalising for the hosts 

• Benteke then added a second after 33 minutes to nudge Villa ahead in the relegation scrap 

• Clint Hill was the unlikely man to level the scores after the break for Chris Ramsey's side 

• Charlie Austin looked to have scored a late winner in an entertaining game on Tuesday night

• But Benteke completed his hat-trick to earn a share of the spoils on 83 minutes

Tim Sherwood's jacket did not survive beyond the first 10 minutes and after this astonishing contest it remains to be seen if either of these sides fare much better.

When Aston Villa's animated manager threw his gilet to the ground in celebration at the sight of Christian Benteke's first half equaliser, he probably rather hoped his players were man enough to remain in the Barclays Premier League after all. Indeed when he then saw Benteke convert the second of his three goals after 33 minutes, he may have felt his damning critique on Monday had provoked exactly the response he was looking for.

But the grit, desire and determination his forwards had demonstrated was lacking at the opposite end of the field and a QPR side every bit as desperate to maintain their top flight status did a fine job of exposing exactly the weaknesses Sherwood had highlighted.

 Matt Phillips (left) headed Queens Park Rangers into a seventh-minute lead, getting on the end of Bobby Zamora's cross

Matt Phillips (left) headed Queens Park Rangers into a seventh-minute lead, getting on the end of Bobby Zamora's cross

Winger Phillips garnered just enough power on his head to plant beyond Brad Guzan in the Aston Villa goal 

Joey Barton wheels away after watching Phillips nod in at the back post, as Ciaran Clark (left) and Carlos Sanchez appeal for offside 

But QPR were only ahead for three minutes after Christian Benteke equalised for the hosts at Villa Park 

Benteke drove beyond Rob Green from the edge of the box to net his seventh Premier League goal of the season

If it made for a hugely entertaining encounter, it must have been hell for the managers however friendly they might claim to be. Sherwood walked off the pitch at half-time with his hands planted casually in his pockets, comforted by the fact that his side were sitting five points clear of relegation danger.

But when Charlie Austin followed Chint Hill's second half equaliser with a third goal for the visitors, Villa had replaced Chris Ramsey's spirited side in the bottom three.

Only 12 minutes remained, and even if Benteke required just five more minutes to score again with a terrific free-kick the overriding feeling in the Villa ranks was certainly more one of frustration than relief. Benteke did not look like a man who wanted to enjoy his hat-trick at the sound of the final whistle. On the contrary, he looked devastated.

Both sides have some difficult games ahead but when Tottenham and Manchester City come next for Villa, there is plenty to concern Sherwood. A replay of QPR's goals will not make pleasant viewing.

The failure to close down Bobby Zamora before he delivered the cross that enabled Matt Phillips to strike after only seven minutes. The failure to challenge Hill and so stop him scoring his first Premier League goal. The failure too to respond to the threat being posed by Austin, who was allowed to take a touch to control the cross from Phillips before driving the ball past Brad Guzan.

Such frailties could yet drag Villa down this season, and Sherwood knows it. 'We are not equipped unfortunately to go anywhere and dig out a result,' he complained afterwards, and on this evidence he would appear to be right.

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood threw down his gilet in celebration after Benteke scored the early equaliser

Benteke was at the double in the opening 45, sweeping beyond Green to put Villa ahead just after the half hour

Defender Clint Hill was the unexpected scorer of QPR's equaliser just after half-time to make it 2-2

Hill grabs the Queens Park Rangers badge in celebration after scoring his first ever Premier League goal

Charlie Austin got ahead of Ron Vlaar and had looked as if he'd won the game for QPR

At times his side were excellent here, thrilling their supporters with a tremendous first half display. Phillips might have landed the first blow for QPR but the players he was probably referring to as 'the icing on the cake' were giving him plenty of cause for celebration. They were attacking with great flair and finesse, with the pace of individuals like Gabriel Agbonlahor and Leandro Bacuna and the sheer power of Benteke.

The call for more men made Sherwood's selection of 19-year-old Jack Grealish somewhat curious. But the teenager too was performing well. More than man enough for the occasion.

As a game it was something of an emotional rollercoaster, even if the warmth of the embrace between Sherwood and Ramsey before kick-off was soon replaced by the cold reality of a dire situation for both teams.

Never one to hide his feelings, Sherwood responded to QPR's opening seventh minute goal by unzipping the aforementioned gilet in disgust. It was understandable really, given how meekly his defenders tried to stop Zamora from delivering the cross Phillips then headed home from close range.

Only three minutes later and the same gilet was off altogether, Sherwood throwing it to the ground after seeing Benteke's shot take a nasty deflection off Mauricio Isla's trailing foot and loop over Rob Green. 

The drama in the technical area added to the sense of excitement around Villa Park. The atmosphere was electric, the place almost erupting again when Grealish so nearly marked his first Premier League start with a goal. Benteke delivered a perfect ball into the path of the teenage winger only for Green to make the save at his feet.

Sherwood's decision to play a midfield diamond and exploit the pace of his attackers was working well for Villa. Not everyone seemed to agree, and at one stage Sherwood seemed to be placating a fan who didn't seem quite so impressed.

But his team were playing with real verve, with Benteke scoring a second after 33 minutes with a goal that owed as much to the speed, vision and courage of Agbonlahor as the precision of the finish.

Agbonlahor was just quick enough to send Benteke clear before being hacked down by Sandro, and remained curled up in a ball while his colleague raced towards goal. Benteke finished cleverly, shaping to shoot beyond Hill before dragging his effort back inside the QPR defender and beyond the reach of a wrong-footed Green.

Austin salutes the travelling Rangers supporters inside Villa Park but they weren't able to cling on to the points 

But Benteke's wonder free-kick, much like Jason Puncheon's on Monday night, meant Villa came away with a point

Benteke can't conceal his delight at completing his hat-trick and rescuing a point in the 83rd minute

Good friends Chris Ramsey (above) and Sherwood know each other well and were going head-to-head in the dugout for the first time

Former Villa striker Stan Collymore couldn't hit his elation in the press box after Benteke knocked in his second of the goal

Sherwood urges the supporters packed inside Villa Park to up the ante as they looked to move clear of trouble 

Charlie Austin vies for possession with Kieran Richardson during an intense and entertaining first half

Niko Kranjcar attempts to get QPR back in the game but couldn't steer his effort beyond the American Guzan

Villa Park looked a picture on Tuesday night as the two relegation battlers went head-to-head in Birmingham 

Sherwood said Ramsey was one of the finest coaches he had worked with and he certainly impressed here. He had seen how his forwards had been starved of service in the first half and responded after six minutes of the second by making two substitutions.

It had the desired effect, Hill equalising four minutes later; punishment for what appeared to be Bacuna's failure to stay with his man.

Austin's goal – his 17th in the Premier League this season - would be a further source of concern, even if Benteke did then level for a second time with a wonderful free-kick that beat Green via the inside of a post. Are they man enough? Only time will tell

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCHZONE by LAURIE WHITWELL

• Aston Villa (4-4-2): Guzan 6; Bacuna 6, Vlaar 5.5, Clark 6, Richardson 6; Cleverley 6.5, Sanchez 6.5, Delph 7, Grealish 6.5; Agbonlahor 7.5, Benteke 8

• Manager: Tim Sherwood 7

• Goals: Benteke 10, 33, 83 

• QPR (4-4-2): Green 6.5; Isla 6 (Traore 52, 5), Caulker 5.5, Onuoha 5, Hill 6.5; Phillips 7, Barton 6, Sandro 6, Kranjcar 5 (Henry 52, 5); Austin 5, Zamora 6.5

• Manager: Chris Ramsey 7 

• Subs not used: McCarthy, Hoilett, Mitchell, Grego-Cox

• Goals: Phillips 7; Hill 55; Austin 78 

• Booked: Sandro, Kranjcar, Austin 

• Ref: C. Pawson

• Att: 33,708