Premier League: Paul Lambert proud of 10-man Aston Villa after defeat to West Brom

Paul Lambert had nothing but praise for his 10-man Aston Villa side after they were beaten 1-0 by Midlands rivals West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Villa were looking to record their third Premier League win in a row but their job was made harder when Kieran Richardson was shown a straight red card after 21 minutes.

The visitors managed to hold out until the second half but their resistance was eventually broken when Craig Gardner fired home the winner in the 72 minute.

“I’m disappointed but not disappointed with our game,” Lambert told Sky Sports. “All credit to the team, we kept going until the final whistle and we could have nicked an equaliser.

“We were well in it with 11 against 11 and were the dominant team, seeing a lot of the ball and never under any real pressure, but the sending off changed the course of the game.”

Richardson was dismissed by referee Mike Dean for a studs-up challenge on Stephane Sessegnon as he tried to chase down a heavy touch.

Although Lambert said there was no malice in the tackle, he also had no complaints over the decision to show the former Baggie a red card.

“When you leave your studs up, you leave yourself open for the referee to make the decision and I can see why he has sent Kieran off,” he said. “But it’s not malicious. Kieran’s touch was overhit and he has tried to retrieve it.

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“It’s his touch, there is no malice in it. He is not a dirty player by any stretch of the imagination, but you have to take the consequences.”

Even with 10 men Villa could have nicked a draw in the closing stages as Christian Benteke spurned a couple of good chances.

Lambert, though, was not too critical of his leading striker and said ‘it just wasn’t his day’.

“He has been excellent since he came back, another day they go in but it just wasn’t his day,” said the Villa boss. “He will get more chances and stick them in.”