Gerard Houllier is still backed at Villa

Villa manager Gerard Houllier still has the backing of the club's boardroom today despite the pressure building on him after the home defeat to Wolves.

The supporters made their feelings towards Houllier clear before, during and after their first loss to Wolves for 31 years.

Villa fans hung a banner bearing the words 'had enough. Houllier out' before kick-off and then chanted "you don't know what you're doing" when Marc Albrighton was substituted in the second-half.

At the full-time whistle Houllier was met with a crescendo of boos as he walked towards the tunnel, with internet message boards and phone-ins besieged by angry supporters afterwards.

But the club's hierarchy remain steadfast in their commitment to Houllier's Villa vision.

A senior club source said: "It's been a bitterly disappointing day. But nothing's changed. We remain committed to the same long-term strategy.

"It's important we show unity from the boardroom to the management, from the terraces to the players. I haven't seen anything in Gerard's body language that suggests he is losing faith.

"We have eight games to go and we have more than enough to believe we will stay up. We know we're in a battle and we're going to have to scrap, but we're in this scrap together.

"I can't see how changing things with four games to go would have any positive impact on how the team plays anyway."

Villa are only a point above the drop zone and should they lose to Everton in just under a fortnight's time the pressure will be further cranked up.

But Houllier believes he is still the man to lead them forward and claimed he is fired up for the challenge of guiding the club to safety.

He said: "I said that before the game so nothing has changed. There are four teams with 33 points now.

"It will be a fight but 'game on.' I would love to have something different to aim at but that's what it is. Let's be realistic. We weren't relaxed enough and confident enough.

"It is very difficult after you lose a game when playing well as we did against Bolton."