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    Football - Lambert: Wembley final would be a great achievement

    Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert believes reaching a Wembley final this season would be an "absolutely phenomenal" achievement for his young side.

    Villa have experienced mixed fortunes so far in what is a transitional first season under Lambert, with top-flight experience at a premium in the Scot's squad.

    The starting line-up against Swansea recently had an average age of just 23 years and 120 days with a number of players having been brought through the academy or recruited from the lower leagues.

    They currently sit two places and one point above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone, but there remains a feel-good factor around Villa Park, not least with the team in the FA Cup fourth round and two matches away from a possible place in the Capital One Cup final.

    They meet Bradford at Valley Parade in the first leg of that semi-final on Tuesday knowing they are heavy favourites to overcome the League Two outfit. Regardless of the level of opposition, though, Lambert knows reaching the final would be huge for the club.

    "For this club to get to Wembley again would be extraordinary," he said. "In a one-off game there you just never know what could happen.

    "To get there I think every player would tell you would be absolutely phenomenal."

    Asked whether it would surpass any of his previous achievements, the former Scotland international said: "I think it would, yes.

    "I never view it as any great achievement on my own behalf. It's the players and the fans. I never really look at myself and think `I'm going to do that' because it is irrelevant. The important thing is what happens to this club and the players."

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