Relegated Aston Villa’s beleaguered players face three more weeks of public humiliation before their nightmare season comes to an end, but caretaker manager Eric Black has no plans to shield any of his highly paid, underachieving troops from their fate in the final fixtures.
Angry Villa fans targeted goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defender Joleon Lescott and midfielder Leandro Bacuna for particular ridicule, with the trio’s every touch booed during Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at home to Southampton, but Black, who was also criticized by supporters for his substitutions, insists the abuse directed at the players and himself will not influence team selection.
“When you’re bottom of the league with 16 points and you’re relegated, whether you’re in the right frame of mind I don’t know, but I can only pick on what I see,” Black said. “People will have to judge things for themselves, but I can only pick it on 37 years of football experience. That is all I go on. I can’t pick it on what journalists say or what supporters say.”
Photo: Reuters
Black said he could have no complaints about the hostile atmosphere that greeted Villa in their first home game since their first relegation for 29 years.
“I can understand the fans’ frustration, and the fans will definitely have their ideas on the team and the players they want to see,” he said. “I think that multiplies because of the circumstances, but I can’t be led down that road. I can’t succumb to that and I won’t. It is difficult circumstances for everybody and I don’t want to be accusing the fans of anything because they keep turning up. They have seen poor performances and poor results, and they have every right to voice their anger.”
Two goals from Dusan Tadic helped Southampton to a victory that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.
He added to Shane Long’s opener, while Sadio Mane made it 4-2 late on after Ashley Westwood had twice pulled Villa within a goal.
Southampton still harbor hopes of qualifying for the Europa League.
“What you like is, at the end of the season, to play for something,” manager Ronald Koeman said.
In Saturday’s other 3pm kickoffs, Newcastle United rallied from two goals down at Anfield to snatch a 2-2 draw with Liverpool and keep their survival hopes alive, while Chelsea won 4-1 away at AFC Bournemouth.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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