Paul Lambert: Villa need to get real if they are to survive

Frenchman Remi Garde remains favourite to replace Tim Sherwood, who was sacked on Sunday following a run of six straight defeats which has seen them fall to the foot of the Premier League.

Sherwood replaced Lambert in February when the club were in the relegation zone, successfully leading them to safety by the end of the season.

He then splashed more than £50million on 13 new players during the summer, the type of spending Lambert could only dream of during his two-and-a-half years at the helm.

And Lambert, who is yet to return to management since leaving Villa, believes the club need to get real.

"The expectancy level outweighs the realism at the club at the minute," he said. "It was very hard for me from day one, everyone knew that Randy (Lerner) wanted to sell the football club.

"The most I ever spent was on Christian Benteke, I spoke to some really top players but we just couldn't do it. The players I wanted to bring to Villa were big players, I spoke to (Romelu) Lukaku and (Wilfried) Bony when I was there.

"That's what I had to work with, it's still a great club, but it should never be bottom of the Premier League."

Garde remains Villa's preferred candidate, though continued difficulties in prising the 49-year-old's desired backroom team of Gerard Baticle and Bruni Genesio away from Lyon, where both are currently employed, is forcing the claret and blues to keep their options open.

More than 3,100 travelling supporters are meanwhile set to back Villa when they return to action at Southampton in the Capital One Cup fourth round tonight, with interim boss Kevin MacDonald taking charge of the team.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman is wary of a Villa backlash. He said: "It is difficult situation for them but we have to prepare for a tough game."