Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard insists he's seen improvement in the team since taking charge last season.

Gerrard is under huge pressure after defeat to Chelsea on the weekend.

Villa go to Fulham tomorrow night and Gerrard said: "I have total trust and belief in myself and this group of players. It is well documented we are missing key players, a lot of the improvement that we tried to make in the last window are not available to help us.

"With that support, we might have been in a healthy position. They are on their way back and that is a positive. Every coach and manager you speak to will speak about time but I'm not going to hide away. I want to be judged on the now as well. I understand the situation.

"I won't feel sorry for myself. The outcome was a defeat but we'll take the positives. If we can sustain that; it is not going to happen every time that their keeper is man of the match. You'll get a break and you'll earn that break."