Lambert lauds fans for backing young guns

Paul Lambert has compared Aston Villa’s supporters to those of Borussia Dortmund and believes the emphasis on bringing through young players has helped keep the fans behind the team.

Villa face another crunch clash in their battle to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League when they meet fellow strugglers Sunderland at Villa Park tonight. Lambert’s former club Dortmund have rather loftier ambitions as they bid to turn a 4-1 first-leg advantage over Real Madrid into a place in the Champions League final.

Lambert won the trophy with the German side in 1997 and knows Villa, former winners themselves, aspire to greater things but has been heartened by the way the club have pulled together.