Pundit shares Steven Gerrard sack verdict after what he’s spotted at Aston Villa
Noel Whelan has claimed the Aston Villa players are still fighting for Steven Gerrard despite his precarious job security at present.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, praised the Villa players’ “character and application” during the home draw against Man City.
Aston Villa drew 1-1 against last season’s champions on Saturday (3 September) – and could have sealed all three points if Philippe Coutinho’s goal wasn’t wrongly ruled out.
The Midlands giants remain 17th in the table following the result after just one win from their first six league games of the new campaign.
Football Insider revealed last month (29 August) that Gerrard’s position as manager is far from secure and the club’s ambitious American owners won’t hesitate to sack him if results do not improve.
The former Rangers boss, who succeeded Dean Smith last November, has led Villa to 10 losses in their last 16 Premier League games.
Whelan backed the Villa Park club to “win more than they lose” if they can replicate Saturday’s performance across the rest of this term.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “I saw the players fighting for him. I saw a lot more organisation.
“Look, you’re going to ride your luck against Man City at times, there’s no doubt about that. But they showed character to come back from 1-0 down.
“That’s the fight Steven Gerrard is looking for. They didn’t give up, they kept going and kept pursuing.
“They were the firm underdogs in that game. Maybe the pressure of not being favourites actually helped them in this particular game.
“Now Gerrard will be looking for that sort of application in every match. Not just against Man City.
“This has got to be the benchmark for how to win football matches. If they keep playing in that manner and at that intensity, then they’ll win more than they lose.”
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