Eric Black: It's time to quell Villa fans' fury

The claret and blues go into tomorrow's home game with Bournemouth knowing relegation from the Premier League will be confirmed, unless they match the result achieved by Norwich City at Crystal Palace.

Villa have been bottom of the table since October and won just three times in the league all season, with the atmosphere at Villa Park becoming increasingly toxic in recent weeks.

Supporters chanted 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' and booed several players during last weekend's 4-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Yet Black, who was placed in charge following the exit of Remi Garde last month, is confident of an improved display which would stave off the drop for another week and give long-suffering fans a reason for cheer.

He said: "It's a situation (relegation) where we are now getting close to. I really don't think it will be against Bournemouth, though.

"I think we will do enough to one, change the minds of the spectators a little bit and two, win the game."

He continued: "Without doubt. I want to win on Saturday, I certainly don't want to lose.

"I want to give something back to the supporters, and the players have got to want the same as me, so let's see what happens.

"I don't want tomorrow night to be it, that's that and I was in charge and we were relegated.

"I want to stave it off for as long as possible, I really do."

Black, who only joined Villa in January as part of Garde's backroom team, admits the club's plight has left him saddened.

The Scot is no stranger to Midlands football, having had spells as manager at Coventry City and assistant at Birmingham City.

He said: "Without doubt, I can appreciate how (big relegation is). I've lived in the area for 15 years and I've known Aston Villa for many years, right from the days growing up as a little boy in Scotland.

"It saddens me to be honest. Normally at this point you have to start resurrecting it to make sure it goes in the right way.

"In a small, possible way, if I can edge towards getting the club back towards where the supporters want it to be then that's all I'm focused on, nothing else."

He went on: "It's Aston Villa's supporters that are the key now. They're the ones we have to go towards now.

"There's no half and half. We have got to go towards them and convince them that we're going in the right direction otherwise I can understand why they're reacting in the way they do."

For the second week running, Villa go into the game without the services of striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The club's longest-serving player, who was left out of the defeat to Chelsea while the club conducted an investigation into his conduct, has again been omitted from Black's squad, this time because of a virus.

Agbonlahor telephoned Villa yesterday morning, informing them of his illness and was due to be assessed by the club doctor during the afternoon.