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Paul Lambert is ready to turn to Joe Cole to solve Aston Villa’s scoring woes, and has defended his tactics.

The Midlands club have lost their last four games - against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton - without scoring a single goal.

It has re-ignited criticism from fans about Lambert ahead of Monday’s crunch trip to Queens Park Rangers.

Now, the Scot is considering handing fit-again Cole a first Premier League start in a role playing off star striker Christian Benteke to try to find a spark for Villa.

The Villa boss said: “Against Everton [in Saturday's 3-0 defeat], we didn’t turn up. There were too many below-par performances.

“I want us to create more. I’d like us to be more productive in the end. I know the players have got it in their lockers to go and do it.

“I want them to play with freedom and their own ideas, at times. You just have to get that balance. Against the big teams, you can’t go gung-ho. If you go really gung-ho, it can eat you up.”