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Randy Lerner is giving Paul Lambert his full support after Aston Villa insisted he will not be axed despite some “brutal” flak.

Some Villa fans have been bombarding radio phone-ins and Twitter calling for the Scot’s head.

Monday night's home defeat to Arsenal was the Villans’ sixth loss in eight games - including an FA Cup exit at home to a Sheffield United side fighting against relegation to League Two.

But Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner says there has been “definite clear progress” at the club since Lambert took charge in June 2012.

Villa came 15th last season - despite some humiliating beatings - with 41 points, after finishing 16th with 38 under Alex McLeish a year before.

Now the Midlands club, owned by American Lerner, sit 11th with 23 points and six clean sheets this term.

Lerner’s right-hand man Faulkner, who also sits on the FA Council, said: “Football is a harsh, brutal business. Criticism and stick goes flying about. But being in the middle of it, you have to stay strong together and support each other.

“If you don’t keep going when there is a little bit of stick, then you won’t achieve anything ultimately. With the right guy, you have to weather those storms when they come.

“Twelve months ago, we were in a really bad run. We stuck together during that and saw the benefits in the second half of the season.

“We know what the manager is trying to do, we believe it is a good way. Over time it is going to allow Aston Villa to put ourselves in the best position to compete and challenge in the right half of the table where we want to be.

“If you just look at the short-term you can cause yourself real problems. And equally if you are too fixated on the future in two or three years’ time you can get too caught up in events over-taking you.

“It is about how do we keep making those positive strides forward and making this club bigger and stronger again. Those are steps along the way and I am a big believer in stability and continuity giving you more of a competitive chance. But it is never linear and you are not going to go up in a smooth line.”

Villa have slashed their wage bill since Martin O’Neill quit as manager and have loaned out big-earners such as Darren Bent and Shay Given, while Stephen Ireland has now joined Stoke permanently following a successful loan spell.

With Lerner anxious for Villa to become self-sufficient, they have opted for cheaper signings from abroad or England's lower leagues.

Lambert’s side are now no longer prone to the thrashings they endured last season like the club-record 8-0 loss at Chelsea.

But fans are frustrated at only two wins at home in the League this season as Villa are regularly booed off.

Faulkner added: “It is very understandable frustration - people want to see their team win. But there is very clear definite progress in terms of points and league place.

“The team is also a lot more solid. Last year one of the statistics that got thrown about was the lack of clean sheets. This year we are a harder team to break down and beat.

“Now we get into the second half of the season where we are trying to look upwards and are desperate to improve the home form.”

Villa continue to scour for bargains this month and have snapped up striker Grant Holt, who played for Lambert at Norwich, on loan from Championship side Wigan.

But Faulkner has ruled out a January spending spree. He added: “We were busy in the summer and brought in seven players, that [the summer window] is always going to be the bulk of your business.”