Stiliyan Petrov admits he's relieved to have finally won over the Aston Villa fans.

Petrov admitted: "When you come off the pitch and you see the fans are not satisfied with your game, it's very hard.

"I had to take it and try and show them they were wrong, that I can play better. Now I am happy that the fans clap me. When I was hearing boos, it was hard. The fans come here and they want to see the team play well and when you don't play well, they lose their faith in you.

"I am glad that I turned them around and I hope I can get better and better and make them even more happy.

"It took me a long time to settle in - I thought I would settle quicker. I didn't expect it. I started well and then I got some stick and it didn't go well for me - but I didn't give up.

"The manager was very good. People said he always gave me preferential treatment because I was the first buy but that's wrong. He didn't play me for 10 weeks. It was hard but that's the way it goes. He is that kind of manager and that's why I have a lot of respect for him.

"If you don't do well you are out of the team and have to fight for your place. That's what happened in my case. I spoke to him and I knew I wasn't doing well enough and that was the reason I wasn't in the team."