Lambert pays the price for poor form as Villa search for new boss

Paul Lambert last night paid the price for Aston Villa’s plunge into the Premier League relegation zone as the club announced his departure with immediate effect.

Villa chiefs had maintained throughout an increasingly tortuous campaign that Lambert retained their full backing but acted after Tuesday’s defeat at Hull.

Lambert signed a contract extension after a good start to the season in September but Villa’s form quickly deteriorated and included a dismal run of 659 minutes without a top-flight goal.