Paul Lambert: No blame culture at Villa
Boss Paul Lambert today refused to play the blame game and praised Villa's derby fightback after they claimed a point at Albion.
Shane Long's second goal followed Leandro Bacuna's gaffe but Lambert insisted he did not tear into his players at the break as it it was vital to keep cool to turn the game around.
He said: "There were no tea cups flying around. The important thing is there isn't a blame culture because you're in it together.
"Thankfully we got inside their heads. Once they are over that white line it's on them and they have to perform. I thought they were excellent. I knew if we scored the next one it would flip the coin and that's what happened.
"We're in it together. It's a great cliché, you win together and lose together. I never hear anyone blaming each other."
But Lambert knew the first-half display, when Albion could have been out of sight after Stephane Sessegnon missed a sitter, was unacceptable.
"You look at the start we had, it was really poor. In 10 minutes we were 2-0 down and in a derby, let alone any game, you're up against it," he said.
