Saturday 1 November 2014 14:49, UK
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has moved to ease some of the intense pressure surrounding his future at the club ahead of this weekend’s Super Sunday clash with Tottenham.
Despite guiding his side to a fine start to the campaign - three wins from the opening three fixtures - Lambert finds himself preparing to face the frustrated Villa Park crowd after leading the club to five consecutive defeats without scoring.
Lambert has not had a single win to savour since signing a new four-year contract in September, a run of form which has prompted calls for his head from sections of the Villa faithful, but the defiant Scot insisted the criticism does not worry him.
"If you look at teams like Tottenham and Liverpool who spend a bit of money the pressure probably intensifies because they were in the top six last year," Lambert said.
"We've played nine games and this will be our sixth game against last year's top six.
"You have to come through it. It goes from one manager to the next. If you look at which manager is under pressure it is one guy one week, the next the next and another the following week. Everyone gets a hit at it.
"It's just the way football works - you just have to turn it around. It would be more nail-biting if we had five games to go but we're 10 games into the season.
“You've got to be able to handle it, its two big clubs going head to head. I have my own way of dealing with things."
Lambert will go toe-to-toe with under-fire Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino on Sunday, another manager in the spotlight following a stuttering campaign that sees his side languishing in mid-table.
The former Southampton boss has seen his team win just once in their last seven league games, with fellow strugglers Newcastle United clinching all three points from their visit to White Hart Lane last week.
And Lambert went on to admit his side had been given a mental battering by an intense set of fixtures which has included losses to Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all before Monday night’s defeat to QPR at Loftus Road.
"The difference against the top five is that it's relentless,” Lambert added.
“Physically and mentally, it's hard against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, you don't have a rest in there.
"The mental toughness for that is excruciating at times. If you are not getting results it's hard. Teams will play to their strengths but we have to be more creative, there are players to do it."
Lambert is without Fabian Delph and Alan Hutton for the visit of Spurs while Philippe Senderos is also likely to miss out. There could, however, be a recall for Charles N'Zogbia, as Villa attempt to end their 531-minute goal-drought.
"Charles has talent to burn," Lambert added.
"He has that in his make-up and we have to find a role where he can create things. He really is a talent. He can play wide but he had that spell at Wigan where he played in behind the strikers."
Watch Aston Villa v Tottenham live on Super Sunday. Coverage starts at 3:30pm, Sky Sports 1HD
