Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has called on fans to put their grievances about him to one side and get behind the team for Saturday's match at Blackburn Rovers.

Supporters have voiced their discontent in recent weeks as the Midlands club have slipped to 15th in the Premier League table.

"At the moment it is a bit gloomy with the financial figures coming out and the fans showing a bit of dissent at the moment," McLeish told reporters. "But they have to get right behind every player that wears that Villa shirt.

"I'd hate to think and it would be really disappointing if they didn't give the players on the field their absolute support.

"I ask them to put their grievances against me aside for 90 minutes and give those boys out there their support."

McLeish's side won the reverse fixture at Villa Park 3-1 earlier in the season.