Jury remains out on Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert's trial in the court of public opinion provided no clear verdict at Villa Park.

His team produced an all-too-familiar performance from which they clawed a point towards the safety line but did little to change the perception of a floundering vision, writes Martin Swain.

But an embattled manager will take relief from the failure of any serious further dissent engulfing him at the end of a turbulent week.

A hastily-produced banner hanging from the Holte End declared: 'Sid's Claret and Blue Army' which was more eloquent than in its five simple words initially imply.

Lambert has brought himself time and a little favour by recruiting one of the club's most cherished figures, Gordon 'Sid' Cowans, to his first-team dug-out but this manager's struggle to reclaim affection after two seasons of struggle remains.

And a Benteke-free Villa appear incapable of dramatically changing the prospectus. On Saturday Lambert's team were second best to a polished and stylish Southampton whose arc of progress runs in a direct opposite line to Villa's.

Fortunately, the Saints lacked the ruthlessness in front of goal to drive home their superiority but their easy control of possession and ability to craft the game's only real opportunities exposed still further the continuing limitations of this Villa side.

Villa Park celebrated its 117th birthday last week and head groundsman Paul Mytton has produced the old venue's best surface. But at the moment it is a source of relish for the opposition and wasted on home players who remain strangers to the football of the moment.

It was a performance which lacked nothing in application and at the finish drew a muted round of applause from supporters relieved to have seen a run of four consecutive defeats come to an end.

Five points clear of the relegation line, Villa will surely be able to see the job done. "It was a really tough game and I think it's a huge point for us after what has gone on this week," Lambert said.

"In the last four games the lads have taken a lot of criticism but I'm proud of the way they played. They have stepped up to the plate when they needed to. We needed to stop losing football matches."

But the manager's challenge to convince such a patient support-base that he can change direction and lead the club out of its malaise goes on before a doubting audience.

It could have been worse for him. Southampton might have scored twice in the opening five minutes had Rickie Lambert not squandered two chances created with worrying ease by Luke Shaw – the game's outstanding player – and Steve Davis.

And how galling was it for Villa to see Davis, their former FA Youth Cup-winning midfielder strangely discarded by Martin O'Neill, out-shine all of the current midfield crop?

It is calculated the suspensions of his two closest aides earlier in the week suggest a changing approach from Lambert and the selection of Marc Albrighton, a player he has overlooked while Villa fans have screamed for his inclusion, was maybe another concession.

Whatever the reasoning, Albrighton repaid him by providing the inspiration for Villa's best period of the game, a flurry of attacking intent midway through the second half during which he registered his team's best effort on goal.

A public trial at the end of which the jury is still out?

From such a one-dimensional performance, that was as much as Lambert could expect.