Aston Villa V Crystal Palace - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Lambert favours winter breakAston Villa boss Paul Lambert has called for a winter break and insists it would benefit English clubs.The Scot has added his name to a growing list who want the Barclays Premier League to stop over Christmas.Jose Mourinho, Gus Poyet and Wayne Rooney have all insisted a break would be good for the game.Villa host Crystal Palace on New Year's Day, their third match in less than a week, and then face Blackpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.And, ahead of the Eagles' visit, Lambert is keen to see a league hiatus during winter."From a manager's point of view, I guarantee if you went up and down the country and did a survey on it, I'm pretty sure 99 per-cent of managers and staff and players would want the break," he said."I guarantee you fans would enjoy it, too."Fans up and down the country are brilliantThey follow their teams everywhere
I have no issues with that."My point of view is that you will have a lot better quality in the second half of the season with a break."I just think it would help everybody, the national team, everything."You're asking the players to play (again) in two days
You're not going to get the best quality from the game."It's difficult to do that 48 hours after playing a tough game."Villa are 13th in the table after their 0-0 draw with Sunderland on Sunday and host Palace, who could have Alan Pardew in charge by the time they come to Villa Park.Lambert is without the suspended Fabian Delph and injured Ashley Westwood and Nathan Baker (both knee).Gabby Agbonlahor is back after a ban and Joe Cole is available following a hamstring injury but the club will assess Tom Cleverley (foot) and Ciaran Clark (back).Crystal Palace must do without influential captain Mile Jedinak for their New Year's Day trip to Villa.The Eagles' midfield lynchpin has already joined up with Australia for their pre-training camp ahead of the Socceroos hosting the Asia Cup.Marouane Chamakh remains a doubt with continued thigh trouble as Palace continue to move past Neil Warnock's December 27 sacking.Pardew could turn to Darren Bent to fill Crystal Palace's striker void if the Eagles cannot complete a deal for Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis.Newcastle boss Pardew is expected to be installed as Palace's new manager ahead of the New Year's Day trip to Aston Villa.Pardew has been in talks over personal terms with Palace chairman Steve Parish since Newcastle granted permission for the Selhurst Park club to approach their manager.Caretaker manager Keith Millen could yet handle affairs at Villa Park on Thursday, and admitted the club must not lose focus on their January transfer targets."There are players on the list that I'm sure the chairman's going to go through with the new manager," said Millen, who will be retained in Pardew's backroom staff."I've been involved in the discussions with Neil (Warnock) when he was here and the scouting network."If we can bring in one or two players then we can be at full strength."
Source : PA
Source: PA