Warnock's trying to make himself even less popular...

[Ad@m]

...by suggesting last night's defeat was King Carlos's fault, not McLeish's!

Aston Villa players are to blame - Stephen Warnock

Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock has backed under-fire manager Alex McLeish by blaming the players for Tuesday night's potentially costly 2-1 home defeat by Bolton Wanderers.

The match turned on a penalty conceded by Carlos Cuellar for his challenge on visiting midfielder Mark Davies.
But Warnock told BBC WM: "That's nothing to do with the manager.

"The lads have gone 1-0 up, are playing well and then an individual error gets them back into the game."

Bolton then instantly scored the winner, and Warnock, who had put Villa ahead just minutes earlier, admitted: "The lads have got to take the criticism.

"We're the ones on the pitch. The manager prepares us as best as he can for any game. It doesn't matter whether it's Mourinho, Guardiola or any of the top managers, when you go out on the pitch it's down to the players."

Defeat by Bolton leaves Warnock's side just three points above the relegation zone, and the Liverpudlian - who came through a successful relegation battle with Blackburn Rovers three seasons ago - continued: "In this game, there's no time for inexperience and there's no time for learning. We've got to stand up and be counted.

"We need our experienced boys to rally the lads - we're in a massive battle now. It's the toughest battle these lads are ever going to face in their career and we've got to fight tooth and nail to get out of it. But it's one we're up for."

After Tuesday's game, Villa chairman Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner insisted they were right behind manager McLeish.

"We will continue to support and rely on our manager and the squad and therefore give them our full support," they said.

But they admitted that "right now everyone connected with Villa is hurting badly", adding: "We very openly acknowledge the frustrations of Villa fans and share in them completely."

Villa are now only three points clear of 18th-placed Bolton, who have a game in hand.

And their last three matches are from easy for McLeish, whose final day relegation with Birmingham City was greeted with glee by Villa's fans 11 months ago.

Villa start with Saturday's crunch derby against major rivals West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
McLeish's men then host Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park, where they have won just four times in the league this season, before finishing the season at Norwich.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17844075

[Nev]

Well, maybe the walking disaster area of a player, who is only second worst by a Hutton default, would like to fucking resign then?

No? well shut the fuck up then.

[Matt Collins]

It was an absolute howler by Cuellar though, who had a poor game generally. Others would have received a lot more stick for that mistake.

[VillaBobby]

I don't see to much wrong with what he said. Like it or not the next 3 games are massive and all the players have to stand up and be counted and sometimes it needs pointing out that they have made an error.

[James]

The club have to do this rallying the troops stuff, the alternative silence would be too deafening, and the younger players need to know what the score is too. I don't have an issue with the article at all, Warnock is one of the senior players and he's taking responsibility, which is what we've all been criticising the seniors for not doing isn't it?

[claret and blue blood]

No fan of Warnock at left back but in midfield and last night we could do with a few more playing with the fight and effort he has shown-fair play to him.

[Bad English]

I'll let him off. At least he scored.

[PeterWithe]

I've some grudging respect for Warnock, he's had a bad season but he hasn't hid and he's showed a lot of fight.

[Chipsticks]

The club have to do this rallying the troops stuff, the alternative silence would be too deafening, and the younger players need to know what the score is too. I don't have an issue with the article at all, Warnock is one of the senior players and he's taking responsibility, which is what we've all been criticising the seniors for not doing isn't it?

Bang on the money for me there.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Warnock's Mr April in the calendar - along with Habib Beye

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

There's a great deal of truth in what he says though.
The senior pro's do need to set an example and do what they're paid for.
A bit of honesty is no bad thing.
Pity it didn't start in August!

[richardhubbard]

It's all there fault

[Lobsterboy]

Warnock is talking sense; it's time for the senior players to start earning their £40,000 a week plus salary and get us out of the shit

And as far as his summary of the penalty last night, he's right again - it wasn't McLeish's fault we gave away a daft penalty!

He had a decent game last night and hope to see him in the team on Saturday along with the other experienced players if fit

[Phil from the upper holte]

Whilst I'd like to blame mcleish for everything you can't blame him for individual errors, warnock speaks a lot of truth but It's a shame he didn't slam himself after QPR

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

If I go to work and don't perform I would get told, we're too soft on these molly coddled professional footballers. Cuellar fucked up for the goal, it wasn't deliberate - he made a mistake - he's human, however he has to take it on the chin that he'll get picked up on his mistake.