Aston Villa need that touch of quality - match analysis

In the context of the season defeat at Everton is not a disgrace.

The Toffees have lost once in 21 Premier League games at Goodison Park and vigorous Villa came close but still fell short.

The manager's assertions his team deserved a result were based on their defensive display, a rear-guard action which almost worked.

Villa were 16 minutes from a fine away victory and five minutes from an excellent point before Kevin Mirallas' wonderful free-kick arched beyond Brad Guzan.

Up until then they were defensively sound, organised and compact with Everton looking devoid of ideas for long periods.

It was becoming the perfect away performance, if a little smash and grab.

Those are the positives, logical and fair points from Lambert.

The other school of thought is Villa came for a point, hoping to snatch what they could and run against a team who used to be their equals.

The Champions League--chasing Toffees were weakened by the loss of Romelu Lukaku, Bryan Ovideo and Gerard Deulofeu and played like a side lacking a recognised striker.

But, ultimately, they had the quality to squeeze past Villa. Even missing key men they still had more than the visitors.

And there lies the frustration, that looking to pinch a draw at Goodison Park – where they hadn't lost in the league since 2006 – could be the sum total of Villa's ambitions.

That would do a disservice to the team's professionalism but it is certainly the reality with their limitations.

The simple fact Villa are an average mid-table side who will flirt with relegation, such is the nature of this season's Premier League.

Those expecting the same swashbuckling approach which yielded a point at Liverpool two weeks prior were disappointed.

Villa lack the consistency – or the underlying quality – to maintain that level of performance, especially with Gabby Agbonlahor out with a foot injury.

Take Agbonlahor away and Villa are shorn of 70 per cent of their threat on the counter attack.

Villa had one shot on target – Leandro Bacuna's goal – as Christian Benteke and Grant Holt failed to shine.

The argument that Villa deserved something starts to fall flat when the attacking stats are scrutinised.

Lambert was also outfoxed by Roberto Martinez – who turned Villa down in 2011 – as he failed to adjust to Everton's switch after Steven Pienaar was introduced at half time.

Villa are not good enough to soak up 60 minutes of pressure but that is what they were left to do. They are at their best when bullish and cavalier but there was none of that, something Lambert cannot deny.

And defeat makes Saturday's visit of West Ham and a trip to Cardiff 72 hours later all the more important.

The gap to the bottom three is down to five points and, ahead of a double header with two of the chasing pack, nervous looks can still be cast over the shoulder.

Whatever the derby win over Albion brought it certainly was not any protection from being dragged down.

A win masked Villa's failings that night, poor defending and a lack of quality, just like Saturday's loss showed how far apart they now are from Everton.

The next two games are not must win, Villa have the points already, but they must emerge unbeaten or face an uncertain spring.

There are few brave enough to predict the relegation certainties and Villa are still in that pack after a loss which, if anticipated, was hard to take.

Aiden McGeady cracked a fine effort against the post early on but it was a rare chance during a turgid opening – until Villa took the lead on 34 minutes.

Fabian Delph robbed Ross Barkley, Benteke found Bacuna and the Dutchman drilled through Tim Howard's legs.

It was as good as it got though as Villa failed to conjure another shot on target and Everton were decisive at the break.

How Lambert would have craved Pienaar. The January search for is coveted 'No.10' went unrewarded as Villa failed to prise Wes Hoolahan from Norwich.

And Pienaar reminded Villa just want they were missing as his half-time introduction added the spark to Everton work-rate.

Of course, Villa are unable to attract a player of the South African's calibre but the sentiment remains.

It was Pienaar's cute pass which breached Villa's defences as they finally caved to allow fellow substitute Steven Naismith to level with 16 minutes left.

Before then Benteke almost headed Leighton Baines' free kick past Guzan and Leon Osman dragged a shot wide.

While the visitors defended manfully their response to the Toffees' relentless second-half pressure was negligible.

Eventually Villa couldn't cope, Everton finally rewarded from Mirallas' brilliant free kick after Ciaran Clark's needless foul.

Naismith should have made it more emphatic but headed at Guzan in stoppage time and Marc Albrighton almost recused a point when his strike deflected over.

Claims Villa deserved a draw can be made but only if you fail to see the obvious.