AVB: Villa should stand by Lambert

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is sure Aston Villa have the right man at the helm in Paul Lambert.

Villa crashed to a second successive heavy Barclays Premier League defeat on Wednesday, being thrashed 4-0 at home by Spurs three days after suffering a humiliating 8-0 mauling at Chelsea. Prior to the game at Stamford Bridge, though, there had been encouraging signs from Lambert's young team.

And as far as Villas-Boas is concerned, Villa must stick with the Scot as manager.

"They were a different team at the beginning," said Villas-Boas - who, like Lambert, was appointed to his present post over the summer.

"When Paul changed the structure to five at the back the results improved for them and they managed to get some important ones.

"I think for them now it is important to find stability defensively, looking at what is happening. I think Paul is the right person. He is developing a very young team, and it has nothing to do with teams of the past."

As well as Villas-Boas, it seems Lambert has the backing of Villa supporters, who were singing his name even after the goals started going in.

As for the club's hierarchy, after the game - in which Jermain Defoe put a dominant Spurs side in front in the 57th minute before Gareth Bale added a hat-trick - Lambert stressed he has a "good relationship" with Villa owner Randy Lerner and speaks to him every week.

On the fans, Lambert said: "They are fantastic with the way they have supported us. I think they can see what we are trying to do and they were terrific again.

"It was really pleasing to hear them back us, but we know we have to get results."