Clark keen to take focus off Benteke

Aston Villa's stand-in skipper Ciaran Clark insists striker Christian Benteke should not shoulder all the responsibility for spurned goal-scoring chances in recent matches.

Benteke has been in outstanding form since his £7million summer move from Genk and is Villa's current top scorer with nine goals. But he was guilty of failing to convert several gilt-edged opportunities in the last two matches against Bradford and Southampton which both ended in defeat.

Clark said: "It was just one of those days against Southampton. It wasn't just Christian. We are not putting chances away as a team. We need to defend as a team and attack as a team."

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