Alex McLeish hopes to have eased his tense relationship with the Aston Villa fans with a last-gasp winner against Fulham on Saturday.
Villa boss still hopeful of winning over the fans
Alex McLeish hopes to have eased his tense relationship with the Aston Villa fans with a last-gasp winner against Fulham on Saturday.
McLeish was on the receiving of boos from all around the ground and cries of 'you don't know what you're doing' after replacing Charles N'Zogbia with Andreas Weimann after 73 minutes.
Those supporters were soon eating their words, though, as Austrian U21 international Weimann secured Villa's first home win for more than four months in injury-time with his first goal for the club.
All three of McLeish's substitutions - Barry Bannan, Gary Gardner and Weimann - combined to secure the 1-0 win which has eased any fears of Villa being dragged into a Premier League relegation scrap.
And former Birmingham boss McLeish admitted: "The more home games you don't win, the fans are going to be on your back.
"I don't think it needs much excuse for them to get on my back just now. I'm pleased for the Villa fans. I know they had a little dig at the substitutions but I know what football is like and it is extremely fickle.
"There is a bit of relief with the win and the dug-out can be a tense place to be especially when you haven't won at home for a long time and with the fans' expectations being massive.
"But I hope the fans went home happy - and are happy with the substitutions I made after all.
"Overall the fans were brilliant but the players gave them cause to be brilliant with their performance."
McLeish punched the air with delight after Weimann's winner and claimed: "I've had a lot of great moments in football, last minute winners and cup finals and things like that.
"That winner was another tremendous moment."
Prolific
Weimann has been in prolific form for the reserves and is now hoping he can stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up.
The youngster said: "I've dreamt of this moment for a long time and to get my first goal for the senior side, in front of the Holte End as well, is fantastic.
"I was always thinking if I get the chance, I'm going to score it and luckily I got the chance and put it away.
"You see the fans, everyone going crazy, and it was a big relief for us. We've not won for a long time at home and for me it was an unbelievable feeling.
"I'm hoping I'm going to get a few more chances now and can show the gaffer what I can do and get a few more goals.
"Hopefully I'll get a few more chances for the rest of the season and we want to kick on and move up the table."
