• Capital One Cup

Lambert vows to fight on despite embarrassment

ESPN staff
January 23, 2013
Aston Villa were knocked out by Bradford on Tuesday © PA Photos
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Paul Lambert remained defiant in the face of questions about his future at Aston Villa, despite missing out on a place in the Capital One Cup final to League Two side Bradford.

Lambert, whose side are just one point above the Premier League relegation zone after a torrid run of form, was asked whether he will remain in charge following the 4-3 aggregate defeat.

He said: "I am absolutely gutted, hurt, disappointed, everything. You can either lie down or come out fighting and I will come out fighting.

"Ask any manager and they will say they will get on with it until they hear something different.

"I know exactly how our fans are hurting because I am hurting exactly the same. The crowd were right with us and we let them down."

Trailing 3-1 from the first-leg, Villa took a 24th-minute lead against the Bantams at Villa Park through Christian Benteke. But a failure to build on their advantage cost them when James Hanson headed the visitors level from a corner in the second half.

With a minute remaining Andreas Weimann rounded Matt Duke to put Villa back in front on the night but it wasn't enough to spur a comeback and they were denied a final berth against either Swansea or Chelsea.

"I can't repeat what was said to the players in the dressing room and no manager would tell you that, but everyone is hurting," Lambert added. "They might take 10 or 12 years to even get close again.

"We have lost four goals from set pieces in this semi-final and it's not good enough. It's simple enough to do - it's man for man at corners.

"The players know their responsibilities and it's 'man for man and me against you'. That is not hard to understand. It is black and white and yet we've conceded from a corner again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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