Lambert: Villa will beat drop

Paul Lambert is backing Aston Villa to win their survival battle, despite lacking the funds Tuesday's opponents Newcastle have to strengthen.

Last Updated: 28/01/13 at 15:36 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League To Stay Up 12/13 To Stay Up: Aston Villa 1/100

Paul Lambert: Believes Villa will stay up

Paul Lambert: Believes Villa will stay up

Magpies owner Mike Ashley has given substantial financial backing to manager Alan Pardew during the January transfer window, as the scrap to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League hots up.

Villa manager Lambert has only limited funds to add to his squad, although he admits he needs "a few in" before the window closes at 11pm on Thursday.

However, he will not criticise the policy of Villa owner-chairman Randy Lerner, who has spent in excess of £250million during his time at the club.

Lambert said: "We need a few in. I'm not going to say 'we need four or five' because people will have a perception of what they think. I know in my own head."

"We are not close to anything like that (what Newcastle have spent). I'm pretty sure the chairman knows exactly what he is doing."

"It's his money and he's the man who has put X amount of money into the club over the years. I'm not going to come out and tell the chairman he must do X, Y and Z. I am not going to do it."

"If you are asking me if there will be a vast amount of money available in this window, there won't be. But you can only play with the hand you are dealt with."

"We brought in some lads in the summer. I knew the club had to rebuild. Randy wanted us to rebuild it. I knew that. We have brought in seven players.

"At this minute there is not much really happening. There's been guys we went for who have gone to other clubs."

Lambert knows it is crucial Villa "hold their nerve" for the scrap that lies ahead to retain top-flight status.

He said: "Is the squad good enough to keep Villa up? Yes. Every game we go into I think we will win it. There's a lot of teams in and around it thinking the same."

"The difference is Newcastle can go and buy and we can't do it, and that's fine. You have to go with it."

"You have to fight for everything. Every game is going to have to be a cup final. Every game, we are going to have to go for it."

"We have to win and there are a few teams in the same situation. We have to hold our nerve and fight for everything."

Lambert also stressed the need to keep hold of 11-goal striker Christian Benteke, after weekend speculation linking him with a summer move to a host of clubs.

He said: "There's no point me trying to build something if it keeps getting dismantled. I don't think you can do that."

Lambert admits he feels the "hurt" being endured by Villa's current slump but has no regrets about moving to the midlands club from Norwich last summer.

He said: "People ask 'why did I leave there?' I had to leave there. It had finished. The opportunity to come to Aston Villa was unbelievable and still is.

"It's a fantastic club. You can sense how big it is. It's huge, absolutely huge."

"I don't enjoy this run we are on. You hurt. But you have to pick yourself up and go again."

"You have to meet it head on. I have said that for the last few weeks."

Bet with SkyBet  Premier League To Stay Up 12/13 To Stay Up: Aston Villa 1/100

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has signed a one-year contract extension

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has signed a one-year contract extension to tie him to the club until 2017.

Premier League: Michael Laudrup insists he wants to stay at Swansea

Michael Laudrup insists he wants to stay at Swansea - as long as they keep their word and strengthen this summer.

Transfer news: Liverpool's Martin Skrtel open to offers at Anfield

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel would seriously consider his future at Anfield if he received an offer from elsewhere.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved