Blowing away rumours of a rift with his manager Darren Bent has backed Paul Lambert in his bid to turn around Villa’s worst start to the season since 1986. "He's our manager now. All the fans and the players are backing him and I'm sure we'll turn the results around." The Striker also feels that Villa were unlucky to come away from Craven Cottage at the weekend with nothing, "I don't think we deserved to lose the game at Craven Cottage."
"We should have at least come away with a point. But it wasn't meant to be so we have to forget about it now and move on to the next game, which isNorwich.”
As well as backing his manager Bent seems to contradict that statement somewhat by suggesting that Lambert needs to play him regularly, but is confident that he can be the man to fire the Villains back up the league, “Goals are difficult at the moment but we need to get in the right place at the right time – that’s all I’ve done throughout my career.”
“Once we get a team blend and start creating chances, I’ll start finishing them.”
Aston Villa’s 20 year old midfielder Daniel Johnson has swapped the reserves for Yeovil Town on a one month loan.
Villa are still said to be monitoring the progress of Toulouse midfielder Wissam Ben Yedder, but face competition from Everton who are also reported to have scouted the player. Yedder has been in fine form this season scoring 6 goals in 8 games inFrance. That is the same total as Villa as a team have managed so far this season.
Canaries manager Chris Hughton has played down talk of any extra bite that might exist between Villa and Norwich this weekend insisting, “I think they will see it as just another game. It’s another three points to play for and I’m quite sure from the other camp they would say exactly the same,” he said.
Lambert has taken a similar tact, despite that fact that his old club are suing him, "I have no animosity towards Norwich whatsoever."
"I want to win any game and every game. I have huge gratitude towards Norwich City Football Club.”
Even though both managers have said ‘the right things’ to the media I am sure both will be keen to get one over the other.
image: © ell brown
Simon Bunn
I possess a swashbuckling attitude towards football writing, aiming to pillage the most exciting and thought provoking topics in the business. Blessed with savvy up to date football knowledge, a dangerous obsession for Aston Villa FC, and a mind of alternative thinking, I welcome all readers aboard.
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