Aston Villa fans told to ‘calm down’ amid Steven Gerrard criticism

Aston Villa fans who are calling for Steven Gerrard to be dismissed from his role as head coach need to ‘calm down’ according to one pundit.

TalkSPORT commentator and Rangers legend Ally McCoist says Villa ‘will be fine’ under the former Liverpool skipper this season and that he ‘likes the look’ of the current squad.

The Midlands club have won just one of their opening four Premier League fixtures this season following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Things don’t get any easier for the Villains as they head to league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday night with the Gunners on a run of four consecutive victories.

“If Villa won they could be seventh” - McCoist urges club to stick with Gerrard

The former Rangers, Sunderland and Scotland star rightly pointed out on TalkSPORT Breakfast that a win over the Hammers on Sunday could have been enough to see them move seventh depending on results elsewhere.

It was a tight contest decided by a 74th minute goal from Pablo Fornals which ensured a first win of the season for the home side.

Villa are far from the worst starters in the division with Everton, Wolves and Leicester City all still winless after four matches.

“It’s one of these games that could have gone either way,” said McCoist.

“I understand the frustration of a lot of Villa fans, I get it, but if you’re asking for a knee-jerk reaction - absolutely not, let’s calm down.

“Another four, five, six games and let’s see how things go.

“I’m looking at the team and there are some great players in there; Coutiniho, I like Watkins, Danny Ings up front and obviously McGinn is a good player.

“They’re maybe just not firing yet but I think they’ll be alright, I really, really do.

“When I say I think they’ll be alright I mean they’ll be kind of mid table or above - I certainly don’t see them in the top six or even top eight.

“They might get into eighth but I think that’s where Villa are, I don’t see a massive improvement in them.

“I do think they;’ll be alright, I don’t think they’ll struggle this year.

“I understand football fans as well as anybody but I think at this early stage there should be a little bit of understanding and people should be given time.”