By Paul Brown

Paul Lambert insists fitness is more important than results as he prepares for the pre-season programme of games, starting this weekend at Burton.

Lambert is eager for his players to focus on their conditioning in the next few weeks ahead of the big kick-off at West Ham.

The new Villa boss is also keen for the first team "to get into a way of playing and get their confidence going" in matches at home and abroad.

He said: "I never read too much into pre-season games to be honest.

"It's nice to win. But I have been involved where we have won every pre-season game and then you get turned over in two or three games with the season just started.

"I have had it the other way too where we haven't won a pre-season game and then we have started the season flying.

"The main thing for me is to get the team fit and get them into a way of playing and get their confidence going and not be frightened by making mistakes.

"But it's new. There's freshness about it for them. They can go and express themselves. Once it starts for real that's when it really matters."

Lambert admits he's relishing the trip to Upton Park on the opening day and is keen for the team to show their attacking intent from the off.

He added: "We will go down there and try to win. That's important.

"It's a really, really tough game but I am not going to go there and sit on the back foot really.

"We have to go there on the front foot and the best way to do that is to try and attack."

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