Paul Lambert knows his Aston Villa side cannot afford to start off slow this season or they will once again be embroiled in a relegation battle.

Despite finishing 15th last May, the Villans were only five points off relegation and they can’t count on there being three teams picking up fewer points than them.

After his first season at the club, Lambert spoke about how the relegation battle will give the younger players the experience and they won’t be in that position again, but it seems that the players didn’t get that message and the club haven’t progressed in the three years he has been in the dugout.