An Aston Villa win? Well the form book did not see that one coming...

Paul Lambert is not rated as one of the Premier League's best young managers for nothing, he knows what he is doing.

But after a tough start to the season, without a win in three games, the critics were queuing up to write Aston Villa off. That's if they had not before the season even began (here's looking at you Robbie Savage).

For the record we reserved judgement (I even tipped Villa to finish ninth), and it will have given the manager great satisfaction to get their first points on the board.

It was certainly a result which went against the form book. Villa came into the match with two losses and one draw, while Swansea City were flying with two wins and a draw, the same record as champions Manchester City.

However despite the form, if there was one opponent Paul Lambert would have felt comfortable facing, it was the Swans. He led Norwich to home and away victories past them last season.

It was a day where Swansea's big producers did not get their games going. Michu, previously with four goals in three games, and Wayne Routledge, one goal and three assists, were both kept quiet, with the latter substituted off early in the second half.

The other notable thing about the victory, was the contrasting reactions to the transfer business concluded by both clubs on deadline day.

Swansea may have sold Scott Sinclair, but the signing of Pablo Hernandez was hailed as inspired, in addition to Chico, Michu, and Ki.

Aston Villa meanwhile left most onlookers feeling underwhelmed. Lambert looked downwards to the Football League and plucked out Jordan Bowery, Ashley Westwood, Joe Bennett and Matthew Lowton.

Many even asked if the club were setting themselves up for a fall. And they do only have one win in the bag, but it is early days, and the signs are from the weekend that Paul Lambert's side will be just fine and the manager does know exactly what he is doing.

The trump card is Christian Benteke, signed in the final hour of deadline day from his native Belgium. He is just 21, and cost £7 million, and scored despite just being on the pitch for 19 minutes.

If he can start scoring regularly, then he will be a significant upgrade on Emile Heskey, and Villa might just steal a top 10 place after all. It's one game at a time though, and next week's away tie to struggling Southampton certainly looks winnable, and this win will give them no end of confidence.

For Swansea, they need to ensure this loss is just a blip when in-form Everton come to the Liberty Stadium next weekend and get back to winning ways to ensure their early momentum does not become three games without a win.

What do you predict for Aston Villa this coming season?

image: © ell brown