I'm catching Gabby Agbonlahor up, jokes Aston Villa centre-half Richard Dunne

Dec 7 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

GOAL-GETTING defender Richard Dunne has jokingly warned top scorer Gabby Agbonlahor that he is catching him up after firing Villa on their way to victory.

Dunne, who only scored seven goals in nine years for Manchester City, notched his third goal in claret and blue in less than four months with a cracking opener.

And the Republic of Ireland defender quipped that he could overtake eight-goal leading marksman Agbonlahor in the goal-charts if he continues at the same rate.

“It was nice to get a goal and put us in front,” said Dunne, whose previous two goals also came at Villa Park against former club City and Chelsea.

“We were playing well at that stage and had missed a couple of chances already to get in front. We did more than enough to win the game comfortably in the end. Three goals in a season is a record for me and it is really going well.

“I scored seven in nine years at Man City. It is nice to score but you never know as a defender when you are going to score again so it is nice.

“I’m not far off being the top scorer, I don’t think! It is good at the moment.”

Dunne went for power rather than placement with his 13th minute strike after admitting he had a bit too much time to dwell on it following James Milner’s inch-perfect pass.

“That was the worry!” he smiled. “It was a great ball by James and I had the time so I just concentrated on keeping my head down and hitting the shot as hard as I could and luckily it ends in the goal.

“I just lashed it, tried to get as much power as possible behind it, and tried to keep it on target.

“I think the manager wants us to go for more or less everything with the delivery we get and the pass today from James was perfect. It was nice.”