Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that the unrest among the club's supporters is affecting the player's spirits.

A number of Villa fans have criticised manager Alex McLeish, who made the switch to Villa Park from the club's arch rivals Birmingham City last summer.

"The fans are entitled to their opinions but the chairman [Randy Lerner] has made a choice in bringing the manager here and everyone has got to get behind him," said Agbonlahor. "I think it affects the players otherwise.

"You only have to look at the situation at Blackburn where Steve Kean has been getting a lot of abuse. It does have an impact on the players and does affect them when fans are not backing the manager and not turning up in games.

"He has come in at the start of the season and fans need to give him time to work his ideas through the club."

Villa are eight points above the relegation zone in the Premier League.