• Premier League

Houllier accepts fans' hostility

Aston Villa lost 1-0 at home to Wolves on Saturday © PA Photos

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Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier said he shares the fans' disappointment after a 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves left them one-point outside the bottom three.

Chants of "we want Houllier out" greeted the Frenchman's decision to substitute winger Marc Albrighton in the second half.

"I shared the fans' frustrations," Houllier said. "They are not happy with me and I'm not happy with what we are doing at the moment. This is what happens when you don't get the results. You have to live with that.

"The hostility was not something I have really faced before. It is completely new but I can live with that. The fans need to support the team. What we want is the fans to back the team and at the moment we are going through a difficult period. The season has gone that way."

The former Liverpool manager remains confident Villa will avoid the drop.

"I told the players we have eight Champions League games left to play. I think we will do it. I am convinced we have everything it takes.

"We have quality in the team but at the moment it just doesn't go our way. I think the boys tried hard, created enough chances to at least get an equaliser.

"We hit the bar (through Ashley Young) and I was told there was a penalty but we are going through a difficult period at the moment. It's very difficult to recover from a defeat like at Bolton when you've played well and deserved more than nothing.

"I think today we deserved an equaliser. Like I said, I understand the fans' frustration and everyone is concerned about the fact we are going through a tough period."

In contrast, Wolves have now taken eight points from their last four games to revive their own survival hopes. "You didn't have to be the brightest light on the Christmas tree to recognise there was some tension amongst the crowd," Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said.

"I don't like to hear any manager get hostility towards them but I would prefer it to be him or 18 other managers rather than me! It comes with the job. If you get beaten by a team in the bottom three, you get it (the hostility).

"I empathise with him but sympathy, no."

McCarthy added: "It is a deserved victory. I know they hit the bar but overall we dominated the game. It was a worthy victory.''

Jarvis settled the game with a fierce first-time shot to earn Wolves their second away success of the season.

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