GettyImages / Julian Finney/Getty ImagesDarren Bent responded to his demotion in the best possible way: a crucial late goal.

Paul Lambert has never appeared to be the kind of coach to shy away from making a big decision, and he made the most significant one of his Villa career to date in Sunday's game against West Brom.

Dropping Darren Bent from the starting eleven wasn't a total shock but even so, Lambert laid down a marker for every single senior player at the club when Villa's record signing, and arguably most valuable asset, was left on the bench. It was a decision from the manager that said, in his mind, performances come first and reputations second. For Bent, the quality finisher of front of goal that he is, has been below par in the opening sequence of league matches.

With competition for attacking places hotting up, Lambert opted to pair Gabby Agbonlahor -- so impressive scoring twice at Manchester City this past week in the League Cup -- with the young Belgian, Christian Benteke. The finale to the afternoon's script was easy to predict: Bent came off the bench with Villa trailing 1-0 and scored a point-saving, pride-salvaging equaliser just over ten minutes later.

Does that mean Lambert got it wrong? Not entirely. If the manager was looking for a reaction from the biggest name in his squad, he got one. He may also have got his point across to Bent; it's widely acknowledged that if he's not scoring goals, he's not exactly doing much else and if there's one thing abundantly clear about what Lambert expects from his players, it's that every single one of them must contribute.

Bent isn't the only member of the squad who may have had his nose nudged out of joint. Lambert's becoming an expert at keeping everyone on their toes this season as his team selections continue to be difficult to predict. Once again he mixed things up to face Albion, going for a hybrid 4-4-2 that actually worked more like a 4-3-1-2: Karim El Ahmadi and Fabian Delph occupied central midfield with Marc Albrighton wide on the right. Brett Holman, the fourth midfield player, was on the left side but clearly had license to wander inside and take up a central position when needed. Left back Joe Bennett provided proper width on that flank while Agbonlahor also drifted left.

So early into his Villa Park reign, it's easy to see why Lambert is still shuffling his pack. Some of it worked. Albrighton, back for his first league start of the season, was disciplined and crossed the ball early whenever possible. What he always provides is a strong work ethic (which is probably why he started and Charles N'Zogbia did not) and Lambert loves his team to keep their shape.

Holman was the pick of Villa's players, I thought. With Stephen Ireland injured, he stepped into that role between the midfield and striking lines and almost scored twice in the first half with rasping left-footed strikes that Ben Foster, West Brom's goalkeeper, did well to save. Again, like Albrighton, Holman works hard. He's also got great balance and is always looking to do something positive. He'll run at a player, or shoot early when he can.

Bent's striking replacements, meanwhile, had a tough afternoon. Agbonlahor started well but faded and Benteke seems very raw, willing enough but lacking in composure. Too often he won the ball only for it to then bounce away from him; when he did have a decent chance, he snatched at his shot, sending it way over the bar after beating a defender. It's obvious why Villa signed him but he's very much a work in progress. As is the whole team.

A point rescued, perhaps a point proved (by Bent), perhaps more questions than answers. Could anyone name Villa's strongest team? Does Lambert even know it himself, yet? In my eyes, only El Ahmadi and Ron Vlaar are nailed-on starters, though Matt Lowton is making the right back spot his own and Holman is becoming hard to leave out.

But as for everyone else, if they didn't know before that nothing is guaranteed, the demotion of Bent is a reminder that Villa's manager is not afraid to ruffle any feathers.

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