Paul Lambert urges Aston Villa fans to cancel protest

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has urged frustrated fans to call off a planned protest at the start of tomorrow’s clash at home to Liverpool.

Three unofficial fans’ websites — Villa Blog, My Old Man Said and A Villa Fan — have called on fellow supporters to boycott the opening eight minutes of the Premier League clash with the Reds via an open letter entitled ‘We Want Our Villa Back’.

They claim each minute represents one year for the eight owner Randy Lerner has been in charge as they are fed up at the way the club is being run and the direction it is going.

It is an unsavoury and unsettling build up for Lambert.

“I understand the frustration, and nobody is more frustrated than myself,” said Lambert.

“Everybody involved with Aston Villa is frustrated at what has happened over the last five or six years.

“But I don’t think you can look at the chairman and say it’s one guy’s fault. It’s unfair.

“I understand the fans’ frustrations, but we’ll have a better chance of winning a game of football if they don’t protest, if they stick with the lads, no matter how hard it gets at times.”

Lambert insists he can weather the storm of abuse from the fans.

Asked as to how he felt about calls for him to be sacked, he replied: “It’s not great. I’m human, like everybody else, but I’m also big enough and strong enough mentally to handle it.”

For his part, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been handed a boost after midfielder Adam Lallana returned to training ahead of schedule.

Lallana was expected to be sidelined for a month with a thigh injury sustained against Leicester on New Year’s Day, but he — along with captain Steven Gerrard — will be fit for next week’s Capital One Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

The pair have a chance of featuring against Aston Villa at the weekend but Tuesday’s first leg at home to Jose Mourinho’s side seems more likely.