Premier League: Aston Villa 2 Swansea 0

Two goals from new signings gave Aston Villa their first win under manager Paul Lambert as they defeated Swansea 2-0 at Villa Park.

Matthew Lowton’s excellent first-half volley and a late goal from Christian Bentenke was enough to give the hosts their first victory since March, and inflict a first Premier League defeat on Swansea manager Michael Laudrup.

The game started with both sides sharing half-chances and plenty of attacking intent, with Villa working hard to press all over the pitch to disrupt the visitors’ passing style.

And after a spate of corners for both sides it was the Swans who had the first real chance of the game on the 10-minute mark. A dangerous corner was swung in from the right and captain Ashley Williams met it with a perfectly timed header, but Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan was equal to his effort before he again saved well from Nathan Dyer who smashed in a follow-up effort.

Five minutes later and the hosts grabbed the lead. A dangerous corner was cleared by Swansea, but only to the left-hand side of the penalty area where full-back Lowton chested the ball down and lashed a left foot volley beyond a blind sighted Michel Vorm to notch his first ever Premier League goal.

Swansea continued to play their usual free-flowing style as the half wore on but were unable to create any clear-cut chances against a well drilled and hard working Villa defence.

And it was Villa who almost grabbed the game’s second goal when Andreas Weiman had an effort well saved by Vorm.

Villa looked to be coasting into the break with the lead, but Swansea nearly grabbed an equaliser moments before the interval.

An incisive ball found the lively Dyer in space down the right-hand side and he fizzed the ball across the six yard box but Danny Graham could not get a connection with the goal gaping.

Lambert’s side almost doubled their lead when Leon Britton was forced to head off the line to deny Weimann a goal when the youngster swivelled in the penalty area and smashed his shot towards the corner of the net.

Bentenke came on to the pitch soon after for Villa and made a lively debut following his move from Belgian side Genk.

He should have put the game beyond doubt with five minutes left when he failed to connect inside the six yard box following a knock-down by Darren Bent.

But minutes later the Belgian international did make it count when he latched onto a long punt forward which was missed by Ashley Williams, and lobbed the ball over a helpless Vorm to seal the points.