Aston Villa vs Leicester City preview - Marshall may consult Lambert

Posted Saturday, February 14, 2015 by PA

Aston Villa caretaker boss Scott Marshall has admitted he may consult former manager Paul Lambert ahead of his first game in charge.

The first-team coach, who has temporarily replaced the sacked Lambert, is set to be in control for Sunday's FA Cup visit of Leicester.

Former Arsenal defender Marshall has never managed before and is being assisted by goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall and under-21 boss Gordon Cowans.

Lambert was sacked on Wednesday after just two wins from 21 Barclays Premier League games left Villa third from bottom.

The club are understood to favour a long-term appointment with ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood the bookies' favourite.

But Marshall, who is yet to speak to chairman Randy Lerner since taking over, said he would draw on contacts for advice ahead of the fifth round tie and one could be Lambert.

He said: "If I had a conversation and asked him something I'm sure he'd be a positive help.

"You can only explain so much to get advice back but you try and call upon all your experiences before and try to make the best decision going forward. That's what I'm trying to do now.

"I'm pretty sure we'll have another conversation before the game."

Marshall believes Villa need an experienced manager to help them beat the drop, effectively ruling himself out, and admitted the situation of succeeding his friend Lambert, who he also worked with at Norwich, has been tough.

"I wouldn't say comfortable. It's not something I wanted in any shape or form, my respect for the boss is there," he said.

"He's given me some good opportunities at Norwich and here. This is new to me. Maybe sometime in the future maybe I'll be a better coach for it.

"It's a big job, the boss (Lambert) will tell you that. It'll be a big challenge for somebody."

He has skipper Ron Vlaar available after a knee injury and may recall after he started the last two games on the bench.

Marshall may be tempted to recall Christian Benteke after the striker started the last two games on the bench but is without Philippe Senderos (calf) and Libor Kozak (broken leg).

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson accepts he is now under the full glare of the spotlight after a difficult past week.

But the Foxes boss insists the extra scrutiny will not detract him from his job.

Reports last Sunday claimed Pearson had been sacked only for the club to later deny them.

But with a lack of clarity on the issue, later reports suggested the club did actually make a decision to part company with Pearson but then relent.

All of this came a day after Pearson was involved in a bizarre touchline altercation with Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur, and led to heated exchanges in a press conference on Monday.

With Leicester bottom of the Barclays Premier League, Pearson is under pressure to deliver but he feels he can cope.

Asked if he could sense any extra attention, Pearson said: "Yes, probably, but I'm focused on what I'm doing.

"I will be concentrating on the team. It is not a case of sticking your head in the sand. It is about dealing with situations as they arise and my focus is very much on the team and making sure our performance warrants a win, rather than a disappointing result where we have played well."

Pearson's side produced a lively performance at Arsenal in midweek but still went down to a 2-1 defeat that left them five points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

After four successive league defeats, Pearson feels hard-luck stories are becoming all too familiar.

He said: "I am getting tired of people giving us praise for performances but not getting results. We have got to make that change. There is no-one else.

"We have to make sure we maintain the belief and application we have had and make sure that if it's bad luck that we turn it, and do everything we can to change our fortunes."

Pearson was speaking at a press conference to preview Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against managerless relegation rivals Aston Villa.

The match could provide an opportunity for both clubs to rediscover some much-needed winning form.

Villa's recent results have also been dispiriting and this week led to the sacking of Paul Lambert as manager.

Pearson said: "The Premier League remains the priority but this game in isolation is very important for us. It gives us the next chance to win a game.

"It's important we perform and progress to the next round but I'm sure Villa will have a lot to say about that."

Veteran defender Matthew Upson (foot) is doubtful and Robert Huth is cup-tied so Marcin Wasilewski is likely to feature.