Premier League: Paul Lambert says Aston Villa's Christian Benteke needs to improve
Monday 9 February 2015 20:58, UK
Paul Lambert has admitted it was not a hard decision to leave Christian Benteke out of the Aston Villa line-up for the defeat to Chelsea.
The Villa boss said he has not decided whether to recall the Belgium striker for Tuesday's game away to Hull City.
Villa lost 2-1 to the league leaders on Saturday, but did manage to end their 659-minute wait for a goal.
Lambert said Benteke's performances have been below par which is why he started with Gabriel Agbonlahor against Jose Mourinho's side.
“It wasn’t a hard decision to leave Christian out. His form has dipped, he knows that by his own admission when we spoke,” he said.
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I thought Gabby did ever so well and I expect Christian to take it like any other player and fight their way to get back into the side.
“I thought playing Gabby was vindicated, I thought he was excellent. I thought Gabby did ever so well and I expect Christian to take it like any other player and fight their way to get back into the side.
“I don’t think we should leave everything to Christian, it’s not his sole responsibility to score goals. I thought his form and general game wasn’t up to the level I know he can produce.”
Lambert’s side are looking to end their run of nine games without a win against Hull and the Scot is hopeful of victory if his side match their display against Chelsea.
The Villa boss said: "Well we've got an opportunity tomorrow to go and do that and if we play the way we did on Saturday with that level and that commitment and that tempo of the game, we will be in a shout of winning the game.
"We have to take that form from Saturday right through the remainder of these games and if we do that, we will certainly win more games.
"It's a tough, tough game at Hull. Steve Bruce is in the same position as ourselves where you are fighting everything to get results. They are a tough team to play against but if we do what we did on Saturday we will be right in the game."
