Paul Lambert: Aston Villa will be rewarded for improved performances

Aston Villa coach Paul Lambert has insisted his team will be rewarded for their improved performances by escaping Premier League relegation.

The Villans have vastly underperformed this season with the squad they’ve had available to them, though Lambert has been forced to rely on a number of more youthful members of his squad.

And despite a slugged first half of the term, the Scot believes his side will escape the drop due to Villa's recent spirited displays.

“We’ve been playing well for a few weeks without getting rewards,” said the Villa boss following their 1-0 defeat to Man City.

“I’m a great believer in that if you keep working hard and you keep trying to do the right things you’ll get your rewards.

“I’ve got nothing but pride for the lads and how they played [against City]. They gave us absolutely everything against a really top side.

“They couldn’t give us any more, we just lacked the finishing touches.

“We were in the game for long periods and you wouldn’t think the gulf between the sides was that big after a performance like that.”