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Villa boss Lambert urges response after Chelsea and Tottenham maulings
28 Dec 2012 21:35:00
With his struggling side coming off the back of 8-0 and 4-0 losses, to Chelsea and Tottenham respectively, the Scot is hoping for a strong performance against Wigan
Paul Lambert has urged Aston Villa to bounce back against Wigan on Saturday after seeing his side concede 12 goals in their last two matches.
Chelsea ran out 8-0 victors over Villa last weekend - their biggest-ever Premier League defeat – before a Gareth Bale hat-trick helped Tottenham to a 4-0 win at Villa Park on Boxing Day.
Villa now welcome fellow relegation-strugglers Wigan – a team they are unbeaten against in over three years – and Lambert is after a strong response from his players.
"I think I have always said that even when you win you let it go as quick as you can. You have to get it out of your system - the two defeats - as best we can," Lambert told reporters.
"If someone had said you'd take three points from Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham I think everyone would bite your hand off.
"But because you've been smacked twice everyone thinks 'oh, here we go' but I can't let two games distract from what we are trying to build here."
Lambert added: "You have to respond. There's no point in going out there and feeling sorry for yourself given the amount of people who come and watch us.
"We have to try to rectify it and that's what we'll do. We are hurt like anyone else but you try not to beat yourself up about it."
Villa have nine first-team players currently out injured, including captain Ron Vlaar, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent.
As such, Lambert has put trust in a number of the club’s youth products, but the manager does not believe inexperience is to blame for Villa’s recent struggles.
"As I've said before, over the last few years this club has had loads of experienced players and the situation has not really changed," he continued.
"Experienced players won't always take you where you want to go. I know that from my own experience, I've got a belief in the way we are doing it in the long-term this club will be great.
"There's no point me saying we're down there because of inexperience. This club was battling against relegation last season."
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