Aston Villa fell to another disappointing defeat last night, and this time it spelt the end for Steven Gerrard who was finally sacked from his position.

Travelling to newly promoted Fulham, there was promise that they might have been able to bounce back following their loss to Chelsea last weekend.

However, it now marks one win in their last eight games as they slump ever closer to the relegation zone. They remain safe only by goal difference, for now.

Although many will condemn Douglas Luiz for his red card in the 62nd minute, there was arguably someone else who cost Gerrard even more as the former Liverpudlian was given his marching orders at the end of the night.

Suffering a decidedly toothless attack once again, he handed Leon Bailey another chance to prove himself on the right wing, but yet again, he constantly neutralised attacks with his wastefulness.

He only managed 28 touches all game before being dragged off on the 58-minute mark yet managed to lose the ball 11 times. This meant that for every 2.5 touches he was dispossessed.

Although he did manage one key pass, across his time on the pitch he only managed to complete seven passes in total.

Most worryingly, he attempted five crosses with limited success. Only one found the target.

The 25-year-old may have been offensively impotent, but defensively he once again managed to show even less. It could be argued that he offered almost nothing before his substitution, as he once again let the manager down for his show of faith.

He did not manage a single clearance or interception, and of his ten duels won just four.

Although Luiz will understandably be lambasted for his display, the Jamaican had plenty of time to enforce his will on proceedings before his substitution.

The likes of Emiliano Buendia and Philippe Coutinho will have been watching from the sidelines wondering what they need to do to start over Bailey.

His performance, and indeed many of his teammates' was evidently the final straw in Gerrard’s precarious reign, with Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris taking the decision to send him packing.