Aston Villa Chief Executive Paul Faulkner has come out with a statement asking the club supporters to get behind their manager Paul Lambert in a bid to avoid relegation trouble for the second consecutive season. Lambert was brought in as the replacement for Alex McLeish at the start of last season. Since his time at the club, he has come under a lot of criticism for taking Villa backwards. After being a team that competed for European places during the time of Martin O’Neill, Villa are now in a position of fighting against relegation at the end of each campaign.
They narrowly avoided relegation last season and it looks to be the case this time around as well after they are just four points above the drop zone with four matches left. The 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park is the latest in a line of poor form, which is threatening to put the fans against manager Lambert. There have already been voices against the manager, but Faulkner says that this is the time to support the team and the staff. Villa are on a run of four consecutive defeats, which have come after the incredible 1-0 win over Chelsea at Villa Park.
“We have suffered four consecutive defeats and that is hard to take. We are hurting. Fans are hurting, players and the manager are hurting. The frustration is shared by everyone who loves Aston Villa. Now more than ever it’s time for us all to pull together – fans, players, the manager, everyone at the club. Our immediate focus and combined efforts need to be concentrated on our game against Southampton this weekend,” said the chief executive. Villa will next be taking on Southampton, who have little to play for in the remainder of the campaign.
