Rangers legend Ally McCoist has jumped to the defense of under-fire Steven Gerrard as he declared: "Let's all calm down."
The former Light Blues boss made the switch to the English Premier League with Aston Villa in November last year and was replaced by current boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Things haven't gone to plan as of yet this campaign with Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by West Ham met by a chorus of boos echoing around Villa Park at full-time.
It was the Hammers' first win and points of the campaign, with Villa themselves picking up just three points from a possible 12. In 31 EPL matches, Gerrard has just won 11, with 15 defeats and five draws in that period.
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The former Rangers
"I’ve been in the game long enough that if you lose three games out of four, it’s not the start the supporters want or what I want."
Despite a rough start, McCoist
Cristy told talkSPORT: "They win that game they could be seventh. I understand the frustration of a lot of Villa fans. If you're asking for a knee-jerk reaction, absolutely not.
"Let's all calm down. Another four, five, six games to go, and let's see how things go."
He added: "You look at the team. I like the look of the team.
"They've got some great players, Coutinho, Watkins, Ings, McGinn is a good player. They're maybe just not firing yet.
"I think they'll be alright, I do. When I say I think they'll be alright I think they'll be
mid-table, I don't see them certainly top six, or even top eighth.
"They might get eighth but I think that's where Villa is. I don't see a massive improvement in Villa but I don't think they'll struggle this year. I understand football fans as well as anybody.
"I just think at this early stage, there should be a little bit of understanding and people should be time."
Things don't get much easier for Gerrard as he takes his Villa side to face an Arsenal team who have won four out of four to start the new campaign on Wednesday night. They then host champions and relentless Manchester City at Villa Park this coming weekend.