Lambert won't panic over Villa crisis

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says he will not press the panic button - but statistics would suggest he has every right to after his side slipped into the Barclays Premier League bottom three.

Villa can rightly point to a controversial penalty - converted by Rickie Lambert - leading to their downfall in the 1-0 home reversal against fellow strugglers Southampton but their malaise goes much deeper than referee Mark Halsey awarding a spot-kick against Villa defender Enda Stevens for a challenge on Jay Rodriguez when no contact was made.

Lambert said: "You can't panic. There's a long, long way to go. There will be loads of twists and turns in this whole thing."

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