Aston Villa's Paul Lambert dismisses fears of relegation

Sunday's 4-1 win over Norwich put them seven points clear of the Premier League's bottom three.

"I never really look down," said Lambert. "People were saying last week that West Ham were well and truly out of it and all of a sudden we are level with them.

"We will try to get to the next team above us and I never look at it negatively, I always think we can win games."

"We are a young team and we are miles from where we want to be.

"But we are slowly but surely getting there and if they keep growing and being confident their careers will keep going.

"They're a young group and you try to keep them positive, even when there is a drop."

And Lambert praised two-goal striker Christian Benteke as his quick-fire double, including a spectacular overhead kick, turned the game after Norwich's early opener.

"His first would be up there," said Lambert. "I thought on the day, as soon as he scored the goal, his whole game was great – his flicks, his chest control.

"He was controlling the ball when there were people trying to get to it and when he's at it he's an absolute handful."

And Benteke admitted he had tried his wonder goal in training but it had never paid off – until Sunday.

He said: "I am very happy. I tried it before in training but it was every time a miss or close to the goal.

"This one was excellent though, it is good.

"I hope now I am going to keep my level up until the end of the season.

"We showed some great character and everyone took responsibility.

"We started really bad but after their goal we came back and showed some great football.

"It is important first for us players because it was a very hard time and also for the fans to win at home."