Premier League: Paul Lambert seeks more ruthlessness at both ends from Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has defensive concerns to add to his problems after the 2-0 defeat at QPR on Monday.

Lambert's side have not scored in five Premier League games and memories of a positive start to the season are firmly in the rear mirror.

Their fifth straight defeat left them just two points above the relegation zone and Lambert admitted it came because of a couple of pieces of poor defending despite another night when they failed to hit the target.

"The two goals we lost were really poor - we defended badly," he said.

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"I think that game is the most we have had of the ball, possession-wise, but that is why I'm never one for stats - you've got to score. The main stat is putting the ball in the net and keeping it out.

"We have got to be more clinical in the last third of the pitch but the two goals are disappointing because we had most of the ball."

Villa have only four goals in their nine top division games so far this season but Lambert is sure the goals will start to come when Christian Benteke gets back to full fitness after a serious ankle injury.

I tend not to get them down on that," he added when asked about their trouble hitting the target.

"They will come out of the traps on Sunday (against Tottenham) and I know we are going to be alright in that department because when Benteke gets up to speed and, with (Gabriel) Agbonlahor, (Andreas) Weimann, (Charles) N'Zogbia and (Darren) Bent, there are guys there with goals in them and it will happen.

"My main concern tonight was we had that much of the ball that we had to score with it, but you have to defend when you are on top."