Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa live: Score and latest updates from the Premier League

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Gerrard knows the heat is on. As he admitted himself, he is not “out of the woods” despite a recent upturn in results. His season has suffered after injuries to summer signings Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara, and his back-to-basics approach suggests he knew the previous strategy was not working. It is in the attacking areas where Villa are falling short. In the 0-0 draw at Leeds last weekend, Villa failed to trouble a team over 45 minutes who were playing with 10 men, and the response on social media was savage.

“We have to accept that criticism and the external noise that has come our way,” said Gerrard. “If there’s negativity towards me I accept it. I won’t shy away or let it affect me and my performance. I’m going to push and drive, and demand more from these players to move this team up the league, because performances haven’t been good enough at the start.”

Forest have also experienced a difficult start on their return to the Premier League but the support for Cooper, on the terraces at least, has been unwavering. Last Monday, with his team 3-0 down at Leicester and performing poorly, the travelling supporters loudly chanted his name in what was a clear message to the board. The hierarchy were considering a change, with former Liverpool and Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez emerging as a possible replacement, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis read the room. Despite Marinakis’s reputation as trigger-happy, he felt stability was crucial.

Indeed, his focus has been more on other areas of the club, such as the recruitment team, following the poor start. Cooper has since been rewarded with a new deal and the verdict is that if Forest were relegated, they have the best man to get them back up.

“One thing I know we don’t have to worry about on Monday night is the supporters not being with us,” said Cooper. “That tells you everything about this club – that in a difficult run, which is what we’re in, I know the atmosphere on Monday will be of support and togetherness, getting behind each other.

“Make no bones about it, us as a team, me as a coach and the staff, we’ve got to make sure we do our bit. That’s really important to us for Monday night.”