Paul Lambert remains cool as Aston Villa flounder at Swansea - match analysis

He had just seen his Villa team slip to their fifth defeat in six games, a loss which left relegation a real reality.

He had listened as fans' anger grew as they once again called for his head.

He had watched, powerless, as Jonjo Shelvey's wonder goal exposed Villa's frailties in the most spectacular fashion.

And he ran what is becoming a weekly gauntlet, fielding questions about relegation, his and the club's future and support unrest.

So one would have forgiven him for being on edge after Swansea inflicted Villa's third 4-1 defeat in six matches to leave them three points above the drop zone.

Instead Lambert was calm and considered, almost conciliatory in his nature.

Some may have taken it as acceptance, others might have described him as shell-shocked but there is little point in Lambert losing his cool now.

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One feels Lambert underestimated the overall task at Villa, but it will still hurt him to have his position and authority questioned so openly.

Last week's meeting with Randy Lerner is likely to have filled him in on the chairman's position and Lambert was at ease in talking about any proposed takeover pre-game. Before that, one suspects, he wouldn't have entertained such talk and he is undoubtedly more 'in the loop' than he lets on. Lerner wants to sell and is expected to go in the summer, but whether Lambert follows is up to any future employer. He has already stated he wants to stay, but whether he gets the chance is doubtful. There is a prevailing thought that the depth of feeling towards the manager would be too strong.

There is sympathy for a man who is a victim of circumstance, hamstrung by cost-cutting and the nature of the crisis which has enveloped the whole club.

Any manager would suffer the same problems and would need the skills of Houdini to find a magic formula for this club. Of course some of the money spent has not been used wisely, but a token £2m does not get you far in the Premier League.

Had the PR been better, Lambert would have been granted more patience – but the time to curry favour has long since passed. There needs to be a massive U-turn from the fans to trust the boss.

They see him – justifiably – as part of the problem. But the issues run deeper.

The chairman's poorly-worded statements frustrate and highlight his disconnection with the fans, let alone undermine the club's call for unity.

Lerner should attend Saturday's final home game with Hull. If not, why should the fans keep coming when the chairman fails to lead by example?

The team – with Nathan Baker continuing to flounder and Karim El Ahmadi anonymous – is sleepwalking. They should just survive, but are in danger of becoming an irrelevance in the Premier League.

In their current guise Villa could become one of the top flight's trivial outfits where survival is the only success.

It seems inevitable, without new investment, that defeats at sides such as Swansea will happen with worrying regularity.

On Saturday Lambert was right to say the game was evenly balanced at the break, even if Villa were 2-1 down. The hosts were fragile, always one pass away from trouble as they stoically stuck to their philosophy.

But despite Gabby Agbonlahor's first goal since New Year's Day, Villa had little to show for their improved first-half efforts. Agbonlahor cancelled out Wilfried Bony's opener after he had strolled through some non-existent defending on 10 minutes.

Poor defending was a theme for Villa and they were exposed in the most spectacular way by Shelvey's wondrous strike on 26 minutes. Brad Guzan rolled the ball to Ron Vlaar and his mistimed clearance found Shelvey inside the centre-circle. The former Liverpool midfielder executed a brilliant volley into the top corner from 45 yards.

It was hard on Villa, who had gone close to leading when Marc Albrighton's effort deflected inches wide. But it was their final threat and they faded badly. Pablo Hernandez smashed in a third on 73 minutes and Bony completed his double from the spot after Baker barged into Marvin Emnes in injury time. Villa had wilted and the players continue to look like rabbits in headlights. The spotlight, though, is focused on Lambert.