After being tipped for relegation this season by Daily Mirror and BBC pundit Robbie Savage, new Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has hit back in confident fashion.

Despite finishing a lowly 16^th last time out, the former Norwich boss believes he is the man to massively improve things in the Midlands and was furious with Savage over his negativity towards the club.

Lambert told the Daily Mirror: “I think it is strange for someone to say that when they haven’t really seen them.

"If you are going to make a comment, I think you are better seeing the lads play first.

"I have seen them, which is the most important thing. I know what they can do.

"Wait and see.

"Ron is a Dutch international who played for Holland in the Euros. If you can get into that Dutch side, you must be all right.

“Karim is a really good footballer so I have no problem with them whatsoever.

“I had the same thing last year with Norwich – odds on we were going to go down.”

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