Does Lambert need to bite the bullet and change his Villa Park tactics?

When Aston Villa travelled to the Emirates on the opening day of the season, few had them down to cause an upset as they challenged an Arsenal side who had lost just once in their last 16 games during the back-end of the previous season. But when Paul Lambert’s side left the capital with all three points, not only did it cause unrest at Arsenal but it offered hope to fans of the Midlands side and suggested that the seeds the Scottish boss had planted in his debut season were finally coming to fruition.

They went onto lose their next three Premier League games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle respectively, before sparking their season again with a 1-0 victory at Norwich.

Now after nine league games Villa sit in 13th place and there is cause for concern. While talisman Christian Benteke has scored four goals in seven appearances and Fabian Delph is finally starting to show just how effective he can be, Villa have now lost four of their five home fixtures.

Aston Villa Home Form

The way Lambert sets up his team enables the central trio of Karim El Ahmadi, Ashley Westwood and the aforementioned Delph to relive the back four of sustained pressure while allowing opposition to knock the ball around and enjoy possession in front of them. Then, when they squeeze possession out of their opponents, they spring into a counter attack with Andreas Weimann and Gabriel Agbonlahor running the flanks and Benteke spearheading the move.

Naturally, this way of play is more practical away from home as the hosts often enjoy the majority of pressure anyway and is the reason the Villains have been so successful away from Villa Park so far this term – losing just once from four.

Overall this season Villa have averaged just 45% possession, the second lowest in the Premier League.

While Villa have carved 42 chances during their five home games this term they have converted just four of them, three of which came in their sole victory at Villa Park – a 3-2 win over Manchester City. The amount of possession that the sides enjoy when visiting Villa is proving too much for Brad Guzan and his defensive unit to handle, and they have conceded nine goals in that same five-game span. T

Aston Villa Home Form

The reality is Villa’s style of football is most effective when playing against sides who are comfortable on the ball and vulnerable to pace when bursting forward, as we have seen with both Arsenal and City, and unless Lambert tweaks his set up when playing in front of their own fans then another relegation battle could very well be on the cards.