Aston Villa fans left decision makers in no doubt as scrutiny continues to increase on manager Steven Gerrard.
The 42-year-old is under growing pressure at Villa Park after a miserable start to the new season. And a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday was the final straw for many supporters when it comes to the under-fire Gerrard.
Appointed in November of last year, the former Rangers boss was tasked with helping Villa get to the next level following the sacking of Dean Smith. However, 11 months on, the Midlands outfit remained mired in relegation trouble with just nine points from 10 games.
The defeat to Chelsea was largely of Villa’s own making with mistakes from Tyrone Mings and Emi Martinez gifting Mason Mount his two goals. With the home side desperate for a positive result, they got off to the worst possible start when a wayward Mings header fell into the path of Mount who couldn’t miss.
Villa then had a host of chances to equalise with Chelsea indebted to an inspired performance from Kepa Arrizibalaga to keep the scores level. And with 25 minutes remaining Mount scored his second when a dipping free-kick beat Martinez after the Argentine moved the wrong way as he struck it.
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The remainder of the game was then played out in front of an increasingly disgruntled home support and a gloating section of travelling Chelsea supporters. Gerrard’s chequered history with the Blues meant he would always come in for special attention and they were all too happy to rub salt in the wounds.
They started the chant of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” with sections of the Villa fans only too happy to join in. Villa have secured just two wins so far this season and he is the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next Premier League boss sacked.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, Gerrard was full of praise for his side’s performance and felt they deserved to get a result. “The scoreline flatters Chelsea. I’m extremely proud of the first hour,” he explained.
“A lot of people have been asking for more creation and we got that. The only thing missing today was people not taking chances or good saves. Our belief was affected after the second goal.”
Asked about the threat of the sack, he added: "We need to turn these results into wins and try to move up the table. For me it's about protecting the players. There will be criticism and I need to take the responsibility away from the players.
"If we can replicate that [first] 60 minutes we will move up the table quickly as Chelsea could not live with us. I've had support from above [the board] but a lot of that support is injured. I have to keep fighting and I will take any criticism that comes my way and accept it."
