“I think that is a fact that I have to win over the supporters. If we were stuck in the middle of the table or slightly higher now I wouldn’t be thinking I have already won them over. I would challenge myself to go even higher and better.

“I am not someone who settles for what is going on. From the first day I came here until the last day, whenever that may be, and I hope it is a long time, I’ll continue to keep trying to win these supporters over and prove I am the right man for this job.

“My message is that we’re doing everything we can to take their frustration away by finding that big performance or big moment in a game that can shift us in the league that can put us in a more positive place.

“I think the supporters in the last two games have come for us to grab that and we haven’t. More frustrations come off the back of that, which you’d expect and you understand. All I can do is tell [fans] that we’re doing everything we can to improve things.

“I’m aware of the noise. I said after the last game that I won’t bury my head in the sand or put my head in the clouds or anything like that. I’m very aware of (what fans are saying).

“On the inside you stick together and accept it. You take the responsibility on your shoulders. The players are very aware of it and we’ve all got to use that frustration to put ourselves in a better position.

“I think we have to accept that the start to the season wasn’t good enough. Bournemouth, for example, and the run after that. It is not what we prepared for.

“We were really strong through the pre-season and we could not have gone into the season in a better place. Everyone was fit and available.

“OK, we’ve had some injuries but that is not an excuse. We still have the players and the squad to be in a better position than we are in. I think that has been highlighted in the last couple of games.

“When the Leeds game changed and went to 10 men and also Forest, the position they were in, this team and myself should be getting more than two points out of those games. We have to accept where we are but we are not happy. We are frustrated and we want to put it right.

“It also doesn’t matter what you do, (the pressure) is not going anywhere. For me, personally, it doesn’t matter what I do, does it? I can go and lock myself in a dark room, put myself under the bed, put myself in my golf bag in the boot of my car. I can put myself in any place in the world and the pressure is not going to move or change.

“The only thing I can do is find a big result or performance, keep believing in what I do, front the challenge, dig in and roll my sleeves up, give more, lead more, put more hours in. Give the players more support. I won’t change. I won’t move or shy away from any of it.

“I will front it all up and take the next day on. I will front it and that is what I want my players to do as well. Shying away from it, hiding away from it or pretending it’s gone, or hoping it goes? It only goes with one thing and that is better performances and better results.”

Steven Gerrard, pre match.

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“In my eyes, I can see and feel a progression and realise how close we are and we need to change and fire on all cylinders in the final third. I can see it being close to seeing the progression.

“I also appreciate that where we look now in the table and people’s opinions and blah, blah, I can understand the pressure, criticism and where the frustration comes from. I’m not trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes, for sure.”

Steven Gerrard, pre kick off.

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“We were much better today, we created lots and lots of chances, the way we played in and out of possession, the intensity.

“The first hour was how I want this team to look. We made a costly mistake and they punished us. The performance was outstanding up to the second goal, which knocked the wind out of us. Up to that point we dominated large parts of the game and on another day could have had a handful of goals.

“We have to keep performing. If we have that level of performance I have every confidence and belief in the players. We hit the woodwork three times, the goalkeeper has made a number of saves, we gave everything to the game.

“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 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.”

Steven Gerrard, post match.

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“I was aware of all of the shouts that came behind the bench but I don’t think they were all directed just at me from a personal point of view. Some of them were about some of the decisions in the game.

“You can understand the frustration because they’ve seen the team perform ever so well for an hour but, again, no goals. I heard a group singing from the Holte End, I’m aware of it all, but it is what it is. I have to accept it and try and do everything I can to change the way they’re feeling at the moment.

“I think I’d be stupid not to be concerned and aware of where we’re at. I’ll accept that. Every time I’ve spoken to you guys I’ve fronted up. I won’t hide from the responsibility, criticism or the noise coming from the stands today.

“But what I will say is that if these players can replicate that first hour today moving forward I don’t think this team will have an issue and they certainly won’t be in the area they’re in now in the league because if we can do that to Chelsea and that level of opponent and reward ourselves with that level of chances, I don’t think we’ll have any issues.”

Steven Gerrard, needing a little help to understand why the first 60’ was so different from the final 30’.

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“We want the Manchester City performance and today’s hour consistently, that’s where we’re trying to get to. Fulham is a different game, a different challenge away from home.

“I’ve just said to the players, I know you’ll be frustrated and disappointed, I know you will off the back of a defeat, but if you can replicate that after Fulham, I don’t think we’ll have many problems.

“It’s my job (to lift them) and that’s my responsibility. I won’t step back or aside. I’ll continue to drive and motivate these players. They’ve got to do that to themselves as well and keep pushing each other. Today, before the game, they looked ready and had prepared well. The response was there and it’s just that last bit missing at the moment.

“To be fair to Tyrone I’ve been in dressing rooms where people who make mistakes don’t put their hand up and don’t take responsibility for them. Tyrone’s done that and I’ve told him there’s no need to do that because his reaction was superb from there.

“His form’s improved dramatically in my opinion. He’s been one of our strong performers. Outside of that mistake I thought he was good again today and the team’s reaction was positive and strong and, as a manager, that’s all you can ask for.”

Steven Gerrard.

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“Now Watkins, Ings and Bailey are playing in the front three, I think that is more convincing than Coutinho and Buendia.

There’s this fixation a little bit with Coutinho and the quality he has, I get that. But I feel these three bring a better balance for sure.

“And Luiz as well coming into that midfield. He’s signed a new deal, and I think that’s a great move.”

Martin Keown, ex-Villain, nails it.

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“What’s your job, what’s your role in the team? Say Coutinho - your job is to score goals and make goals. That’s why you’re here. How many goals have you scored, how many assists have you made? Are you getting on the ball for us? The answer is no.”

Dean Saunders, ex-villain nails it.

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“Villa are in trouble.”

Neil Taylor, ex-villain nails it.

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“Steven’s biggest problem is that the teams around them are playing well.”

Ally McMoist, doesn’t.

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