Paul Lambert insists Villa are not a dirty side
Manager Paul Lambert refutes that Aston Villa are a dirty side after Fabian Delph became the latest to see red at home to Sunderland.
Midfielder Delph was sent off four minutes after half-time as Villa went a man down for the third time in four games, but they held on for a point.
It followed the dismissals of Kieran Richardson and Gabby Agbonlahor in Premier League games against West Brom and Manchester United respectively.
Lambert said: "It doesn't look great (the amount of suspensions we have had), but the lads are just committing to a challenge. We are not a dirty team, that's for sure.
"You look at the lads who have been sent off, they are not dirty. If there was one player who should probably get a few cards, because of the way he plays, it would be Carlos Sanchez.
"I must add that he was absolutely outstanding. Carlos was unbelievable. But Fabian's challenge - there was no malice in it, at all.
"In the modern day game now, you get sent off for those challenges. There was one in the middle of the pitch on Andreas Weimann which was just the same.
"I really need to have a look at it again to comment further."
