STEVIE PLEA

Under-pressure boss Gerrard: The margins are tiny. We’re so close to a breakthrough... I’m asking for time

STEVEN GERRARD has asked for time to turn around Aston Villa’s season – claiming he just needs a break.

Villa’s boss is acutely aware of the grumblings of discontent that have started in the stands as the club hovers just above the drop zone.

Gerrard, 42, admitted last week that he was feeling the heat – and the temperature was turned up after a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Monday.

As Villa prepare to face in-form Chelsea, Gerrard insisted that he is making progress.

The Villa manager spoke of small margins and what might have been. He said: “If we’d have scored a second at Forest... and I’m saying ‘if ’. We didn’t.

“If John McGinn had decided to volley that chance instead

of heading it from about 16 centimetres out. Or, against Leeds, if Philippe Coutinho’s shot had gone in off the post and we saw that one home, we’d be sitting in ninth place.

“I know people will say, ‘If my auntie was my uncle’ and all of that... but they are the facts. Those moments, small margins, I’m giving a perspective.

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

“I can see it being close. But I also appreciate that where we look now in the table and people’s opinions of that, I understand where the pressure, frustration and criticism comes from.”

But when it was pointed out to him that all bar one of the players who started at the City Ground were on the books when predecessor Dean Smith was fired, Gerrard agreed.

He said: “I took over this team when it was 16th, two points off relegation off the back of five defeats.

“The team isn’t that different. You can shape and support the players, but the reality is that the group doesn’t look much different, and that is a fact.

“It isn’t different because we’ve had key injuries to big players and, when I first came into the job, I didn’t expect anything to be completely different after one or two windows.

“These situations and challenges take time. But I’m also aware you don’t get time because of results. It’s my job to improve results so I do get more time.

“I don’t want to be cut any slack, it’s fine. I’ll accept it and continue to do the job the best I can. “I’m asking for time.” Gerrard arguably created issues for himself when he decided to give the captain’s armband to John McGinn, stripping Tyrone Mings of the honour.

The form of the Scot has lately come under the microscope, but Gerrard believes the focus needs to be wider to

rate McGinn. He said: “If you are only judging John on goals and assists, you can understand if people think he’s not in top form. But there are many parts of a game that he’s doing fantastically well.

“He is one I trust. OK, he might have made a few mistakes in possession and may not be, personally, firing on all cylinders.

“But out of possession, he’s been magnificent. And we’re going to need tons of that fight and togetherness against Chelsea.”