Lambert silent over suspensions

Villa announced on Tuesday that assistant manager Ian Culverhouse and head of football operations Gary Karsa had been replaced by club legend Gordon Cowans and goalkeeper Shay Given on a temporary basis while an internal investigation is carried out.

Manager Lambert would not be draw on the issue at Thursday's press conference, with the Scot focused on arresting a run of four consecutive defeats that has dragged Villa back into relegation trouble.

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