Brad Guzan: Aston Villa fans right to boo but Cardiff win would be massive

The trip to Wales takes greater significance after the weekend's home no-show in the 2-0 defeat by West Ham.

It was their eighth home Premier League defeat this season – their 10th including cup exits – to leave them four points above the bottom three.

They were booed off – a soundtrack which is becoming all too familiar at Villa Park this season. Fans expect better and Guzan knows they must be brave enough to accept the, deserved, flak.

He said: "If there's going to be a bad reaction we are all man enough to take it. Of course the boos hurt but the fans have a right to express their displeasure just as much as they show their gratitude when things go well. It comes with the territory. You take it on the chin and get on with it.

"You have to continue to fight regardless of what's going on around you. You have to be able to continue to play your football. The game doesn't stop in the 50th minute because you made a bad pass. You get on with it.

"I don't know what it is. We're professional players so regardless of whether we are playing at home or away, you have to find a way to get a result. I know a lot of people have spoken about us not being able to play at Vila Park but, from our point of view, I don't know why it is.

"I hear the grumbles – I don't think you can avoid that. Hey, they have a right to express their opinions and we have to take that – we're in this together.

"We all want Villa to do well and the fans have been fantastic in the way they have helped us and we want to do our best to reward them."

• Watch Paul Lambert's press conference ahead of the Cardiff clash here

Villa are six points above the second-bottom Bluebirds, who lost the south Wales derby 3-0 to Swansea on Saturday, with just seven points separating the entire bottom half.

Cardiff supporters have already protested against owner Vincent Tan after his sacking of Malky Mackay in December.

And Guzan believes the key to victory could be getting the unsettled home fans to turn on their team.

He said: "Listen, no home set of fans is going to be happy when their team is losing. Our fans are no different to any others.

"Hopefully this is a chance to go down to Cardiff and get their fans on their backs a little bit and hopefully get a performance that we can be proud of and win three points. The fans have been great – they have generally been with us. We just want to reward them with some good play and good results."

Ron Vlaar (hamstring) remains a doubt, but is expected to play, while Ryan Bertrand (ribs) could miss out after colliding with the post on Saturday.

Marc Albrighton is in line to start after his impressive substitute outing against the Hammers with Antonio Luna ready to replace Bertrand.

Cardiff are waiting to decide whether to contest Craig Bellamy's FA charge for violent conduct during their derby defeat. He has until 6pm to appeal. He will still be available tonight and Guzan is ready to ensure Villa can lift the gloom after the weekend.

"We have to try and change that," he says. "The best thing about this is we have an immediate opportunity to try and put things right at Cardiff. We know it's a massive game, for us and for them. "But it's a chance for us to go down there and get three points.

"Losing to West Ham hasn't made it extra pressure – this league does that anyway. We're going down there with confidence and knowing what we are about as a club and as a team and try to get the points."