Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert retains his belief that the club have a bright future ahead, despite being in the midst of a miserable run ahead of a crucial showdown with fellow strugglers Saints.

Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Swansea left Lambert with his head in his hands after Danny Graham struck an added time equaliser for the Welso side, but the Scot could at least take some comfort that the Midlands club had not suffered a fourth-straight heavy defeat.

Prior to their Liberty Stadium visit, Villa had shipped 15 goals and scored none in their previous three games and, truth be told, should have conceded a handful more during an opening half-hour where Swansea threatened to run amok.

Villa, fielding their youngest side in a Premier League game with an average age of 23 years and 119 days, showed grit to steady the ship and should have hung on to claim a valuable win after Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke's penalty put them ahead.

Lambert, without the likes of Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Nathan Baker, Richard Dunne and Ron Vlaar through injury, will look to strengthen his squad in January, but feels he has a group of young players who will serve the club well in the long term.

"We have been better than we have shown in the last three weeks," said Lambert, whose side's next Premier League game is at home to Saints on January 12.

''A result like this will always be a building block, it's a long-term job I have here. It's a massive job and the football club will be better in the future.

''We do have experience in the squad but some lads are injured at the minute, the club has been in this position before so it is not new to them.

''We know you have to earn the right to go up the league table but the future of the club will be really good.

''Everybody waxed lyrical when we beat Liverpool and two games later against Chelsea people said we can't do anything right, but I will keep the belief I always have.

''I have a great belief in what is happening here.''