TheCable

Aston Villa have sacked Paul Lambert after a disastrous run of results that has seen the club slip into the relegation zone.

The Scot won just 12 points from his last 21 games with the team scoring eight goals and their total of 12 goals is the lowest in Barclays Premier League history at this time of the season.

He signed a new four-year deal in September, but with pressure coming from the terraces club owner Randy Lerner decided he had to act.

After Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Hull Lambert insisted he was 100% confident of survival, despite dropping into 18th place with 13 games to go.

“I probably can’t describe how low I feel. It’s as flat as you can get (in the dressing room). I’ve just told the players there are 13 cup finals. We have to win them,” a defiant Lambert said after the game.

But 24-hours later, he got the boot.

“Aston Villa Football Club has parted company this evening with manager Paul Lambert,” a club statement said.

“First-team coach Scott Marshall and goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall will continue to prepare the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Leicester City at Villa Park. The club would also like to place on record its thanks to Paul and take this opportunity to wish him every success in the future. The club will announce a new manager in due course.”

Lambert took over at Villa Park in 2012, replacing Alex McLeish, after guiding Norwich into the elite division.