'Survival best achievement of my career' says Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert

The claret and blues secured their top-flight place this week before last night's 4-0 thumping at Manchester City.

And, ahead of their final game of the season at Tottenham on Sunday, Lambert hailed survival as a personal triumph.

"If you're asking me, it's one of the greatest things I've done in my time," said the 1997 Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund.

"I'm delighted we got over the line. That was our incentive in the last few weeks to get over the line and we did it. The lads deserve a lot of credit because they took some heavy knocks but they did it and they kept the club in the league, which is the most important thing.

"I've always been really pleased with their effort. I can't ask for any more effort. They've given me absolutely everything. But the club needs players, there's no two ways about it."

Edin Dzeko's quickfire double ended Villa's resistance in the second half before Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure sealed the win.

It took City back to the top of the Premier League – which they will win if they get a draw in Sunday's season-finale with West Ham. Villa go to White Hart Lane with their future still in limbo with chairman Randy Lerner expected to confirm his decision to sell the club next week.

And Lambert reiterated the club needs a cash injection if it is going to end a four-year cycle of struggle.

He said: "I think the football club needs investment. It's punching you right in the face. Any club that wins a European Cup and has won leagues before and got a massive fanbase should never be in this position.

"The main thing was to stay in this league and keep that heritage of this football club being a top-flight team.

"That was always the thing to do and we did it in adversity when there were things going against us."