Aston Villa vying to secure top-flight status as drop looms large

Villa’s vocal problem this term has been scoring goals, having incredibly netted just 12 times in the Premier League, 10 less than other goal-shy sides Sunderland and Leicester.

This raises concerns over Lambert’s decision to let Darren Bent leave the club on loan, with the ex-England international having struck three times in four Championship outings for Derby County, two more league goals than Villa have this calendar year.

Lambert’s style of play and tactics while in charge were questionable too, playing primarily with a flat midfield trio of Tom Cleverley, Andreas Weimann and Fabian Delph, with neither central man showing any enthusiasm to burst forward and support Villa’s struggling strike-force.

On-loan Manchester United midfielder Cleverley was met with a frenzy of jeers as he was substituted in the last loss, while Christian Benteke’s input has come under severe scrutiny as well.

The Belgian frontman has netted just two league goals this season and, despite a series of problematic injuries, has failed to follow up his previous two free-scoring campaigns, instead regularly performing under-par.

Struggling striker Benteke struck 28 times in all competitions during the 2012/13 season, and grabbed 11 goals last term prior to a serious injury, but he has struggled massively to carry the club’s heavy scoring burden again, with little help form his teammates.

Villa’s supreme struggles have not been helped by injury to their key defensive operator and captain Ron Vlaar, who has been in and out of the side due to different knocks, halting any momentum or progress.

Despite an immense difficulty to find any encouraging domestic league form, toothless Villa can take some comfort from Sunderland’s dramatic survival last season.

Gus Poyet’s Black Cats were in the same position as Villa at this stage last term, and had won only one more game, but secured their top-flight status with some courageous displays during the Premier League’s thrilling finale.

Aston Villa will need to find inspiration from somewhere to beat the drop after haplessly plunging into the danger zone, and are odds-on 8/13 to stay up.