Lambert calls for Agbonlahor consistency

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has called on striker Gabriel Agbonlahor to maintain his goalscoring touch.

Agbonlahor ended a barren run of form that had seen him go 17 games without a goal on Tuesday, scoring twice against Premier League champions Manchester City to help Villa to a 4-2 League Cup win at Etihad Stadium.

Lambert told reporters: “Every time I pick a side it is hard but Gabby’s performance the other night was exceptional.

“His two goals were fantastic and, if you get Gabby firing on all cylinders, then he is a handful.

“Consistency comes from within himself. He is at an age now where he has got to get consistency in his game as well.”

Villa host west Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and Lambert is keen to get a win for the supporters after West Brom finished above the Villa Park outfit in the Premier League last season.

“The fans won’t have liked that (finishing below West Brom) because they are their rivals. I know what derby matches mean to the fans,” he said.

“I’ve played in and seen enough derbies to know you’ve got to try and win them. I know they will come and back us after the other night.

“You can sense the fans are up for it. At the last home game against Swansea they were absolutely bouncing. This will be better, this will be something I’m looking forward to seeing.”