Paul Lambert relieved by Aston Villa ‘huge win’

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert spoke of his relief at a “huge win” over West Ham which moved the Midlands club out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Strikes by Christian Benteke and Charles N’Zogbia put Villa in control and all West Ham could manage in reply was an Ashley Westwood own goal. It was Villa’s first win in nine league games after collecting only three points from the previous 24 available.

Lambert admitted: “It’s only great when you hear that whistle and you’ve won. The stress levels are ridiculous. It’s a huge win for us. We have been in positions of being goals up in a few games. If we had taken more points from those, we’d be comfortably mid-table. Hopefully broken the camel’s back with that.”

All the goals came late in the match. Benteke scored the opener from the penalty spot after 74 minutes before a stunning free-kick by N’Zogbia put them in control four minutes later.

West Ham have now lost five successive away games and manager Sam Allardyce was again rueing missed chances.

They were handed a lifeline by 
Westwood’s late own goal and then in the final moments Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan pulled off two fine saves to deny Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole.

Allardyce said: “I thought we had saved it. We created the chances to get ourselves back to 2-2 and we failed to do so and that’s been our problem away from home this season.

“We dominated and need to put the ball in the back of the net when we get a chance.”