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Once a top six side, Lambert’s priority is now league survival

KADEEM SIMMONDS previews relegation-threatened Aston Villa

Paul Lambert knows his Aston Villa side cannot afford to start off slow this season or they will once again be embroiled in a relegation battle.

Despite finishing 15th last May, the Villans were only five points off relegation and they can’t count on there being three teams picking up fewer points than them.

After his first season at the club, Lambert spoke about how the relegation battle will give the younger players the experience and they won’t be in that position again, but it seems that the players didn’t get that message and the club haven’t progressed in the three years he has been in the dugout.

The Scotsman took over a club who were once knocking on the door of the Champions League but he has taken them to a level where Premier League safety is seen as a terrific season and fans are starting to lose patience with the low level of expectation surrounding the side.

Pre-season results haven’t gone to plan either, with Villa losing to League One side Chesterfield 3-1 followed by a 4-1 defeat to Dutch side FC Groningen on Saturday.

And the fixture list has not been kind to the Midlands club. With a relatively comfortable first three games, Villa need to pick up a minimum of seven points as they then take on last season’s top four in Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and then Manchester City. 

The last things fans will want to see is their team sitting bottom with few points at the start of October.

Keeping hold of Ron Vlaar will be extremely important, with the Netherlands defender looking like a totally different player for his national team then he ever has at club level.

Vlaar has often looked like a liability in the Premier League but out in Brazil he was one of the best defenders of the tournament. 

If Lambert can get his captain to replicate that form, it could do wonders for the likes of Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker who need a calm and experienced player alongside them in defence.

Christian Benteke’s injury towards the end of last season may be a blessing in disguise for Lambert, with the Belgian not going to the World Cup and thus not being linked with a move away from Villa Park because of his lack of football this summer.

The arrival of Roy Keane, as assistant manager, will hopefully bring a winning mentality to the club but as a manager Keane has failed to reach the level of success he enjoyed as captain of Manchester United.

Lambert has also recruited Joe Cole, Philippe Senderos and Kieran Richardson and their experience may just be enough to keep Aston Villa in the Premier League for another season.

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