Bradford City: Fan power can swing it for us, says Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert

6:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Bantams Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Pau Lambert says two goals is ‘easily retrievable’ Pau Lambert says two goals is ‘easily retrievable’

Paul Lambert is banking on a crammed Villa Park to suffocate City’s Wembley dream – and wipe out the memories of Villa’s darkest night of the season.

Lambert admits the 3-1 first-leg loss at Valley Parade felt even worse than the 8-0 battering his side suffered at Chelsea’s hands over Christmas.

But he is confident that Villa can restore pride by using home advantage to turn the tie back in their favour.

He said: “Bradford have played in front of a full house against ourselves and Arsenal. The major difference is the crowd will be right with us.

“There’s the size of the pitch as well and hopefully the tempo we’re going to start and play with will be a big part of it.

“The fans will be great. They’ll be right behind us right from the off and they’ll keep on driving us on. They’ll play a huge part.”

Lambert, who will have striker Andreas Weimann back after a virus, experienced the other side of the coin when he took underdogs Wycombe to Stamford Bridge in 2007. And he knows the pressure that City will be under.

“They’ll know themselves that two goals is easily retrievable, easily. The whole thing changes now. They’ve got the lead but I’ve got a feeling with the way the stadium will be that it will be a different game.

“We’re playing at our home ground and we have to use that advantage. The players know they can turn it round.”

Valley Parade pitch announcer Paul Deo was accused in some Villa quarters of gloating after the first game by talking about hotel rooms in London.

Lambert added: “If he said that then maybe it’s a bit disrespectful.

“Football’s got a great habit of kicking you somewhere. We’ll see what happens after the game.”

Deo apologised last night and said: “It was never meant to sound like some sort of jibe, and there was no intention to be in any way smug or over confident.

“I certainly did not say ‘book your hotels’. What I said was that, though it was only half-time in the semi-final and it was far from over, Bradford fans could be forgiven for having a look at hotel rooms in London.

“As a club we have not been in this situation before. We were excited and what I said I said totally in that ‘moment of celebration’ context.”

Comments(17)

tornshaunton says...
7:02am Tue 22 Jan 13

if Paul Lambert is worried what a pitch announcer said, he should have heard what some of the City fans were saying . . . . . best get Lenny & the Bantam mascot to keep quiet tonight in case they scare Mr.Lambert !!

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Dancinfeet says...
7:10am Tue 22 Jan 13

Buy half a season ticket and garantee a final ticket? Eh, lambert. Maybe you should check your own message boards to see about gloating before the job is done. Or you too scared of what people actually think of you? I would love it if we beat you but even if we don't it will be a memorable night for us. For you it's just papering over the cracks! Remember we don't have to beat you. CTID.

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Meat Pie says...
7:16am Tue 22 Jan 13

I reckon that if we can keep them out for the first 20 minutes, far from getting behind Villa, the crowd will turn.

Whatever happens tonight, there is no pressure on us.

I just hope we go out and attack and not try to defend for 90 minutes - if we do we could get a thumping.

Besides, I think we can beat them tonight if we have a go.

CTID

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macca1969 says...
7:27am Tue 22 Jan 13

Meat Pie wrote:
I reckon that if we can keep them out for the first 20 minutes, far from getting behind Villa, the crowd will turn.

Whatever happens tonight, there is no pressure on us.

I just hope we go out and attack and not try to defend for 90 minutes - if we do we could get a thumping.

Besides, I think we can beat them tonight if we have a go.

CTID
Spot on fella, feel if we score we will win as long as we get it tactically right. A hard pressing game with good discipline, we don't need no premiership ref having an excuse to send a player off to help them.

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ALEXIMO.56. says...
7:32am Tue 22 Jan 13

Whatever happens tonight, it will be a memorable night and our fans will get behind the lads 100% Lambert talks about the Villa roar, The Bantams roar will be jaw dropping. Just heard on the sky sp news that Shay given is doubtful for tonight with a hamstring problem. It just gets better and I can already see the Wembley Arc. I will be there to cheer on the lads and probably lose my voice again. The very best of luck to the lads and Yes 90 minutes from Wembley. c.t.i.d.

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Bingban says...
8:19am Tue 22 Jan 13

How pathetic of a "big team" manager - they are worried - they are worried and we are the reason - play on it - fourth division v premiership - who are you?
So we go with nothing to fear, we will not freeze and 6k plus is our 12th man - make sure!! CTID

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_Size3_ says...
8:35am Tue 22 Jan 13

Lambert is taking time out to critisise the announcer........

Pahahahahahahahahaha
hahaha!!! Wow - he really is desperate, using anything he can to get an advantage by slagging us off.

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Victor Clayton says...
8:49am Tue 22 Jan 13

come on city

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BCFCBoothy1 says...
9:13am Tue 22 Jan 13

News Flash.....Lambert tries to use Fergie style mind games.
Trouble is he aint Fergie and they have everything to lose.

Can't wait, I'm going to be on tenter hooks all day.

I agree Meat Pie, that first 20-25 minutes could be the most important, I hope they don't get an early goal as we will def grow into the game like 2 weeks ago.

Dare to dream!

CTID

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davebee says...
9:25am Tue 22 Jan 13

Come on City..this is your big night..!!

I've really been surprised by Lamberts inability to applaud Citys first leg match and basically say well done.

Wenger had the decency to do it.

Keep them out for the first 20 mins boys and we'll be there..!!

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Birky_Neil says...
9:40am Tue 22 Jan 13

Pressure is on you Lambert that's why your flapping. If u don't get the goals tonight and beat us then your fans will not be happy. Hope we can get one goal at least tonight.

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Old Dave says...
9:42am Tue 22 Jan 13

I'm looking at tonight like i looked at the Aresenal match and the first leg of this tie. We could easily get hammered, but enjoy the occasion. whatever the outcome, the joy we've had so far has been great, so the lads, and the fans need to give it their all and do their best.
To have a premier league (for the time being) manager (for the time being)rattled shows how close we are, but in reality we are still a long way from the final.
In the first leg, had Villa taken their chances we could have been losing 3-0 after 15 minutes.
Our six thousand will be outnumbered 6-1 tonight, so they needsing themselves to death to to get behind the lads.

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al&co says...
9:54am Tue 22 Jan 13

Take no notice of the propaganda!

Every effort will be made to intimidate our team but we must not freeze.

We have a real chance but it will take a supreme effort. None of our players will have experienced anything like a full Villa Park and the atmosphere will either lift them or intimidate.

All of us in the ground have a part to play and our players will get a tremendous lift from our support.

So let's go there and give it everything we have. There is no doubt they are frail in defence and we
have to press and be aware of their speed on the break.

I feel that we will have to score and I believe that we are capable of doing that.

Here's to a memorable night everybody - enjoy the moment and look after yourselves...

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Citygentleman1968 says...
10:14am Tue 22 Jan 13

Dare we dream?

Never give up the dream!

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son

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Peter300 says...
10:25am Tue 22 Jan 13

Looks like the good Reverend has put his foot in it good and proper. A man in his position should not be winding-up away fans. Does Rev. Deo remember Blackpool? What was he thinking of?

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CheltCityFan says...
10:32am Tue 22 Jan 13

macca1969 wrote:
Meat Pie wrote:
I reckon that if we can keep them out for the first 20 minutes, far from getting behind Villa, the crowd will turn.

Whatever happens tonight, there is no pressure on us.

I just hope we go out and attack and not try to defend for 90 minutes - if we do we could get a thumping.

Besides, I think we can beat them tonight if we have a go.

CTID
Spot on fella, feel if we score we will win as long as we get it tactically right. A hard pressing game with good discipline, we don't need no premiership ref having an excuse to send a player off to help them.
Actually, this is one of my real fears for tonight - and it wasn't helped when I heard that Phil Dowd was going to be refereeing. I thought that Mike Dean and Howard Webb were excellent in the previous games but I really worry about Dowd. I think that he is prone to making mistakes and they also seem to generally go in favour of the big teams. I hope that I am wrong as tonight will be hard enough without contentious decisions. Come on City!

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tyker2 says...
1:48pm Tue 22 Jan 13

if we get an early goal their crowd will turn on the team and it could be a very uncomfortable night for Lambert: maybe a p45 night.

Incidentally Rochdale sacked Colman last night:. Keith Hill to go back, Parky to Blackpool if we lose and Coleman to us. Balbriggan eat your heart out LOL

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