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Eric Black admits it would be ‘unprofessional’ of him to select a team based on the supporters’ opinions.

Villa fans continue to boo Micah Richards, Brad Guzan, Joleon Lescott, and Leandro Bacuna for varying reasons but Black has so far stuck by the latter three.

While the caretaker boss refuses to criticise the fans and has continually expressed how he understands why the claret and blue faithful are so frustrated, he will only select the players he thinks are capable of giving the team the best chance of winning.

“I can only pick on 37 years of football experience. That’s all I go on.

“I can’t pick it depending on what journalists say and what supporters say. That would be unprofessional of me.

“I can understand the fans frustrations and they will definitely have ideas about the team they would want to see, I’ve no doubt about that.

“I think that multiplies because of the circumstances. But again, I cannot be led down that road. I can’t succumb to that.”

Black is not afraid of taking stick from the terraces and admits he will deal with it if it comes his way.

“I’m standing there so I will take it.

“It’s difficult circumstances for everybody at the moment.

“I don’t want to be accusing the fans of anything because they keep turning up.

“They’re trying to voice their opinions on certain players and they will have had those from over a certain period of time.

“We’re professional people and it’s not always rosy in the garden of football. You have to respond to it.”