Premier League: Paul Lambert sacked by Aston Villa following poor run of form and goal-scoring problems 
Aston Villa have sacked manager Paul Lambert after a miserable run of results. Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Hull City on Tuesday night was the last straw for the club’s board.
The defeat saw them slip into the relegation zone for the first time this season – they were third from bottom ahead of Wednesday night’s Premier League fixtures. A lack of goals has been Villa’s primary problem all season –
they have managed just 12 in 25 league matches and have not won in 10 games. His dismissal means that for the first time in the history of the Premier League, there is no Scottish manager in the top flight.
A statement on the club’s website read: “Aston Villa Football Club has parted company this evening with manager Paul Lambert. “First-team coach Scott Marshall and goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall will continue to prepare the squad for Sunday's FA Cup tie with Leicester City at Villa Park. “The club would also like to place on record its thanks to Paul and take this opportunity to wish him every success in the future.
“The club will announce a new manager in due course. There will be no further comment from the club at this stage.” Many of Villa's travelling fans at Hull made it clear they wanted Lambert to be sacked.
After Tuesday's defeat Lambert remained in defiant mood, saying: “I was aware of it (fan unrest) months ago. I just try to do my best.
"We have a massive fanbase behind us, and they want to see the team doing well. It was a disappointing result.
“We are in a fight. I have said it to the lads in the dressing room. They know it. There is still a lot of football to be played. We just have to go out to win the next game."
Lambert, 45, replaced Alex McLeish in June 2012 after two years with Norwich City. Villa finished in 15th place under him in each of his two seasons in charge.
Lambert signed a new contract extension in September last year, shortly after a 1-0 win over Liverpool took them to second place in the table.
They won three of their opening four matches of the season, drawing the other.
But Villa's season soon collapsed - they have won just two of their last 21 games, including a dismal run of 659 minutes without a Premier League goal which ended in a defeat to Chelsea earlier this month.
Nevertheless Villa chiefs showed every sign of resisting the growing unrest among Villa fans and keeping faith in the Scot despite their plunge into the relegation zone.
But the manner of the defeat at the KC Stadium on Tuesday was the final straw for Lambert's reign.
He is the fifth managerial departure of the current Premier League season, after Neil Warnock (Crystal Palace), Alan Irvine (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Pardew (Newcastle United) and Harry Redknapp (Queens Park Rangers).
Tim Sherwood was installed as Sky Bet's 6/4 favourite for the vacancy on Wednesday night, with Burnley boss Sean Dyche attracting interest in the betting at 7/1.
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