Villa’s Mr Brightside keeping the faith

Everton 3 Aston Villa 3

Lambert’s side trail 17th-placed Southampton and safety by three points with relegation a very real threat as the once European Cup winners lie precariously in the bottom three of the Premier League.

The Scot has taken on Villa with an approach of blooding youth while trying to implement a free-flowing passing style which is a polar opposite to Alex McLeish’s side of last term that somehow ground its way to safety in an ugly fashion.

However, it still remains imperative that Lambert’s crop remain in the top tier and the Villa manager is sure he has seen enough from the performance at Everton to prove they will escape their woeful run. Despite some exhilaratingly attacking play, Villa’s hopes of turning a corner were dashed on Saturday as they surrendered a 3-1 advantage against Everton at Goodison Park thanks largely to yet more lacklustre defending.

Lambert describes their current run as a learning process but with West Ham visiting Villa Park on Saturday, they will need to graduate from said education soon to get out of their rut before it is too late.

“Whether you’re winning or losing, you’re always learning in football,” claimed Lambert. “You never stop learning in football, certainly if you’re losing.

“You have to take knocks along the way — it is how you can come back from them that makes you a lot better. If we keep that drive then hopefully we will get out of it. I think the way we are going at the minute, if we keep going like that then we will win more than not, that is for sure. If we can get through this period, we will kick right on.”

With Christian Benteke in their artillery, Villa have a striker that can fire them out of their current predicament. The Belgian international opened the scoring on Saturday after just two minutes with a move that showed his pace and power as he brushed past Everton defender John Heitinga before sliding the ball home to remind us of his predatory finishing.

Everton’s response came through Victor Anichebe but Gabby Agbonlahor restored Villa’s advantage with a well-taken header before the break.

Benteke showed his bravery to enhance Villa’s lead further just after the hour mark as he stuck his head down low to nod past Howard at the risk of taking one of Heitinga’s boots to the face to grab his 14th goal in claret and blue.

“I think he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League,” Karim El Ahmadi, the Aston Villa defensive midfielder, enthused. “I think he’s getting better every day. And he’s what? Only 22. That’s unbelievable.”

At that point it looked like Villa were set for their first league win since December 15, which also came on Merseyside against Everton’s neighbours Liverpool, but they faltered at the back again.

Marouane Fellaini was allowed to play a one-two with Anichebe inside Villa’s area with 21 minutes remaining before scoring with a low strike and then the Belgian rose in stoppage time to head home Leighton Baines’ corner.

The fact remains that Aston Villa will not turn a corner this season until they start learning how to defend them. For the hosts though, the turnaround was frantic and shows they have the fighting spirit needed to maintain a challenge for the Champions League places.

“It will serve us well,” claimed Kevin Mirallas.

“We have worked hard to get into fifth place and we will be doing all that we can to reach fourth place. If we are going to grab the last Champions League spot, we are going to have to keep fighting.”