Paul Lambert: Sacking chants 'hurt' Aston Villa players

Paul Lambert says chants calling for his dismissal "doesn't do the team any good"

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has warned the fans chanting for his dismissal that it will hurt the team.

A section of home supporters sang "we want Lambert out" during the club's narrow FA Cup win over Championship strugglers Blackpool at Villa Park.

Claiming it was "strange" to hear chants against him, Lambert said: "They are entitled to say what they want, but it doesn't do the lads any good."

Saturday's victory was only Villa's third at home this season.

"I've had it all my career but it doesn't do the lads any good, it doesn't do the team any good," added Lambert, who was appointed Villa boss in June 2012.

"The players have been great but don't get me wrong, they'll be hurt by it."

Scoring goals has been a major problem for Villa this season, with 11 goals in 20 Premier League matches the worst in the division.

It was not until Christian Benteke's 88th-minute winner that Lambert's men ended the resistance of Blackpool - nine points adrift at the bottom of the Championship - but the manager said his team had been in control.

"You have to keep patient and building up and all credit to the team for doing it," said Lambert. "We were not struggling."

Villa are 12th in the Premier League and face Leicester in their next game on 10 January.