Football
PA Sport 10y

Paul Lambert praises Randy Lerner after Aston Villa victory over Hull City

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has said he believes owner Randy Lerner's honesty about his desire to sell the club has contributed to their best Premier League start in eight years.

Villa's 2-1 win over Hull -- a scoreline that does not quite do justice to their dominance in the first hour -- took them to seven points from a possible nine heading to the international break.

American businessman Lerner put Villa on the market in the summer, a move that has yet to lead to any concrete interest, and Lambert feels the transparency has helped everyone.

"I think what has helped is the chairman coming out and saying what he said," the manager explained. "That's given people a clear picture of what is happening.

"The chairman's being great -- he's done everything he can here. The crowd have galvanised as well. They've realised if they stick with it and get right behind it I'm pretty sure we'll win more than not."

Villa endured a slightly nervy finale against Hull as Nikica Jelavic's deflected header halved the two-goal lead created by Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann inside 36 minutes.

The hosts should have been home and dry by the hour mark, but saw Fabian Delph and Ashley Westwood denied by the woodwork.

Lambert, whose side were dire at home last season, was content to focus on the positives of Villa's early dominance.

"I thought in the first half we were outstanding," he said. "If we'd scored another couple, I don't think anyone could have begrudged us that.

"The movement of the midfield was terrific, the passing was so sharp, our willingness to go and win the game was excellent."

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