Gerrard under more pressure after Villa loses 3-0 at Fulham

© Provided by Associated Press – Sports Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard looks dejected after the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage in London, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard was taunted by Fulham fans after his team’s 3-0 loss in the Premier League on Thursday.

“Sacked in the morning,” sang sections of the Craven Cottage crowd after strikes from Harrison Reed and Aleksandar Mitrovic, as well as an own goal from Tyrone Mings.

Gerrard said before the match that he was confident he could turn Villa’s season around. But defeat leaves his team just above the relegation zone, level on points with 18th-place Wolverhampton.

© Provided by Associated Press – Sports Fulham’s Harrison Reed celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage, London, Thursday Oct. 20, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP)

A miserable night also saw Villa reduced to 10 men when Douglas Luiz was sent off in the second half for a head butt on Mitrovic.

Fulham dominated from the start but had to wait until the 36th minute to find the breakthrough. Villa was unable to successfully clear from a corner and the ball fell to Reed at the edge of the box. The midfielder took a touch before firing the ball past Emiliano Martinez.

© Provided by Associated Press – Sports Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz walks off the pitch after being shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage in London, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Any hope Villa had of mounting a comeback evaporated in the space of six second-half minutes.

First, Luiz was sent off after referee Michael Oliver reviewed video footage of his clash with Mitrovic.

Then, Matty Cash handled Mitrovic’s shot in the box, leading to a penalty, which the Fulham striker converted.

Fulham wrapped up the scoring when Mings turned a Neeskens Kebano ball across the box into his own net in the 83rd minute.

© Provided by Associated Press – Sports Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic scores their side’s second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage in London, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP)

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© Provided by Associated Press – Sports Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, left, and Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage in London, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP) © Provided by Associated Press – Sports Aston Villa’s John McGinn looks dejected during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage in London, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP)