Aston Villa hero Nigel Spink has urged fans to be patient with manager Paul Lambert.
Spink feels Lambert has struggled without a fully fit first team squad.
"I'm reluctant to jump on the bandwagon of criticism too much," Spink told the Birmingham Mail.
"It is disappointing the results they have had but I still hold a bit of an olive branch for them because since the positive start they have lost Senderos, Delph and Hutton. At various points we have had those three out of a game.
"When they've been fit we have looked solid. I go back to the Stoke game on the opening day which I watched on Match of the Day.
"I know it might be the New Year for Delph but to have him back in there as well, but I just want to see that eleven starting again before I make any judgements on where I think the season will go."
