Aston Villa striker Grant Holt has told angry fans to lay off manager Paul Lambert.

On-loan Wigan Athletic striker Holt insists it's far too easy to let under-fire boss Lambert cop all the flak.

Holt said: "I think it's fair to give the players a bit of stick. The manager has put a team out there to perform and we have not got the points.

"As a group we have to take the flak. We are not in a good vein of form and we are giving away cheap goals."

He added: "It's always the way when things are going against you that people look at the manager. But we deserve the stick.

"The belief among the players is still there. We have got three games left and they are all big ones. But it's still in our hands."