Paul Lambert: 'We must respond'

Paul Lambert has told Aston Villa fans not to panic despite conceding 12 goals without reply in their last two fixtures.

The Villans struggling at the foot of the table suffered a crushing 8-0 defeat to Chelsea last Sunday, before Tottenham Hotspur hit them for four at Villa Park three days later.

Lambert, who took the job in the summer, urged his team not to feel sorry for themselves and make up for the double humiliation at home to fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic tomorrow.

"I think I have always said that even when you win you let it go as quick as you can. You have to get it out of your system - the two defeats - as best we can," Lambert told reporters.

"If someone had said you'd take three points from Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham I think everyone would bite your hand off. But because you've been smacked twice everyone thinks 'oh, here we go' but I can't let two games distract from what we are trying to build here.

"You have to respond. There's no point in going out there and feeling sorry for yourself given the amount of people who come and watch us. We have to to try to rectify it and that's what we'll do. We are hurt like anyone else but you try not to beat yourself up about it."

Victory for Wigan would see them draw level on points with Lambert's men.