Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has no fear

The claret and blues are in their 102nd season among the elite – eight behind Everton who are in their 110th campaign – but their position ahead of the trip to Goodison Park is perilous.

Villa slipped to 19th place after a midweek defeat to Newcastle and with only QPR, who were in the thick of the transfer deadline day activity, below them in the table there remains a growing tension among supporters that this could be the season they are relegated.

But striker Agbonlahor revealed the panic which might have engulfed those outside of the club has not been reflected by the mood of determination and confidence on the pitches at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground.

"We're not more worried than previous seasons. They have been tough and this season is the same. Teams are getting better; the teams that have come up have been better than in recent years," said Agbonlahor.

"Before the teams that have come up have sometimes struggled. We've been unlucky and I think if that changes we will start to win more games than we lose.

"Have we talked about relegation? No. It's not in anyone's mind. We are just looking at each game and know there will be a lot of surprises. Teams down there are going to beat the big teams and lose to teams around them.

"We just have to make sure we get the results we need.

"No-one wants to get relegated. We are all fighting for each other."

Agbonlahor has been in and out of the Villa team this season as Lambert has tinkered with different systems and formations as well as with the personnel on the pitch.

And while the 26-year-old Brummie would naturally prefer to start every week he will not kick up a fuss if forced to come off the bench and make an impact as he did against Newcastle during the week.

"Whether I come on the pitch as a sub or start I give 100 per cent," explained Agbonlahor, who has scored five goals in all competitions for Villa this season.

"It was obviously disappointing not to have started, but when you come on you just want to make an impression and try to get the team the result we needed. Unfortunately we didn't get it.

"The manager makes the choices and rotates a lot of players.

"We have got to take what happens. If he decides you play, you play, if not there's not a lot you can do about it so you just get on with it."

One player Villa have desperately missed this season is defender Richard Dunne who this week suffered yet another setback on his troublesome hip and groin problem having only just returned to training.

And Agbonlahor admitted that given Villa's situation they could do with the experienced Ireland centre-back being involved again sooner rather than later.

Agbonlahor said: "It's the manager's choice when he throws him in but when he's ready to play he should definitely play.

"I think a lot of guys have done well but it would be nice for the manager to have those kind of options."