Saturday 23 April 2016 18:12, UK
Aston Villa caretaker manager Eric Black insists he can understand the frustration showed by fans during the 4-2 defeat by Southampton on Saturday.
Already-relegated Villa fell to a double from Dusan Tadic and goals from Shane Long and Sadio Mane, while the likes of Joleon Lescott, Leandro Bacuna and Brad Guzan were roundly jeered by the home fans throughout.
There were protests throughout the game against Randy Lerner, and Black, who insists he understands how the fans are feeling, says the players must deal with it.
"I can understand the fans, it's not easy here, [the fans] have not had a wonderful season, I can understand that.
"The players have to deal with it, it's as simple as that, they have to deal with it, that's the circumstances, they're professional players and they have to deal with it, and I'll deal with it as well.
"You'd have to ask them individually [how the atmosphere impacts the players], it's not an ideal atmosphere, but it's an atmosphere that is perhaps understandable, considering the circumstances that we've all faced here. We're going to have to be professional until the end."
The hosts fought their way back into the game in spurts, but were let down by some poor defending in both halves, something Black pinpointed as one of the main factors for the defeat.
"We conceded poor goals again which put us on the back foot at times. At 1-0 I thought we were the more likely to score and then we conceded a poor goal.
"There was a response, and credit to them for that, but on the day it wasn't going to be enough to overturn a really good Southampton team.
"I was pleased in some aspects, but I think the goals are preventable. Yes we were in the game in periods, but it wasn't enough today."
Villa are yet to appoint a successor to Remi Garde after the Frenchman was sacked last month, but Black assured fans that work is underway in the background to secure the right man for their first season in the second tier since 1987.
"The process is underway, and I'm sure the people in those positions are doing their utmost to take the club back to where it should be. I'll continue working on a day-to-day basis, and try and prepare the team for the next game."
