Steven Gerrard on brink of Aston Villa axe as fans demand ‘get out of our club’ with boss hinting at exit amid slump
STEVEN GERRARD is on the brink of the Aston Villa axe after humiliation at Fulham.
Villa were already 1-0 down when Douglas Luiz was sent off for a headbutt on Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Furious Villa fans sang “Steven Gerrard, get out of our club” as Mitro’s penalty and a Tyrone Mings own goal sealed the Craven Cottage rout.
Boss Gerrard admitted: “I know I’m in a very difficult position right now. It’s tough but I’m a man and I accept it.
“We’ll see what happens but I’m a fighter and I’ll never quit anything.
“I can understand it and I feel their frustration with them. It was a tough night for me personally. We didn’t turn up.
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“The performance was nowhere near good enough. The first half shocked me.
“I’m trying to find answers but won’t disrespect any of my players.”
Villa are 17th with only goals scored keeping them out of the drop zone.
Harrison Reed gave Fulham the lead before Villa midfielder Luiz was sent off on 62 minutes for nutting Mitrovic after they tangled near the touchline. The Serbian said: “Normally I’m not the victim — I’m on the other side.
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“We got caught in the heat of the moment and he hit me with his head on my nose. It was a red card.”
It was the first time in Prem history Villa have been given a red card, conceded a penalty — for Matt Cash’s handball — and scored an own goal in the same game.
Gerrard added: “I got in amongst the players at half-time looking for that reaction and when you go down to ten men it’s an even bigger mountain to climb.
“When you go head to head in that manner you give the referee a decision to make, I’ve got no complaints.
“The penalty is a tough one. The shot is not even on target and Cash is so close he can’t get his hand out of the way.”