Friday 17 May 2013 13:52, UK
Paul Lambert believes Aston Villa can reap the benefit of their difficulties this season in the years ahead.
When Villa were at their lowest ebb around Christmas time Lambert was urged to seek funds to bring in experienced - and perhaps overpriced - reinforcements. However, he never lost faith in his young side and chose instead to back the men he had while adding two more unproven faces in Yacouba Sylla and Simon Dawkins. "I don't think I had to prove anything to anyone," said the former Norwich boss, whose side face relegated Wigan at the DW Stadium on Sunday. "My main focus was always on the players and getting results. What was going to happen to me was going to happen. I never lost any sleep over it. "I know football and what it's like. In football you can be sacked and it doesn't have to be results-based anymore. You have that now with managers leaving clubs. You get sacked or leave clubs for nothing now. So what was going to happen was going to happen."