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Mammoth performance delights Lambert

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert labelled the 1-0 win over Chelsea his side's best performance since he came to the club.

Fabian Delph scored a superb second-half winner for the hosts.

And Lambert was anxious the furore surrounding the dismissals of Willian, Ramires and Jose Mourinho should not detract from Villa's efforts.

"I have been here nearly two seasons but that is the best victory we have had," he said.

Lambert's side have moved into the top half of the Premier League after completing successive home league wins for the first time since August 2010.

"There's no doubt that performance was monumental," added Lambert.

quote For a young team that has been put together over the last 18 months, it was an excellent result Paul Lambert Aston Villa manager

"We've beaten a team that won the European Cup a couple of years ago, that's vying for the Premier League, a team that's worth millions, with prestige and absolutely top class players.

"We've got lads who've hardly tasted the Premier League - to go and do what they've done today? Fantastic."

Lambert likened Delph's winner to the style of legendary Dutch star Johan Cruyff.

At 24, the former Leeds man is one of Villa's longest serving players, underlining the youthfulness Lambert is trying to mould into a successful side.

After flirting with relegation for so long last season, Villa seem to have made significant strides forward.

In addition to their latest success, the Midlands outfit have also beaten Arsenal and Manchester City this season and Lambert feels there is more to come.

"For a young team that has been put together over the last 18 months, it was an excellent result," said the Scot.

"We have energy to burn but there is also goals in this side and we were a real threat.

"You could say these are bonus games because everyone expects you to lose but on any given day in this league you can win."

The manager also criticised Mourinho after the Chelsea boss's scathing assessment of referee Chris Foy's performance.

"I know what Jose's doing - he's been around the block. If you go on about decisions it deflects from the performance. But we deserved this," insisted Lambert.