Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard suffered a ‘huge blow’ when Michael Beale left Villa Park in favour of the Queens Park Rangers job in the summer, according to Birmingham Live journalist Ashley Preece. The Midlands giants have only registered two wins from their opening 10 Premier League matches of the campaign, leaving them precariously close to the relegation zone.
Having followed Gerrard from Scottish giants Rangers after his appointment as head coach last November, Beale walked away from Villa during the close season.
The 42-year-old was unveiled as QPR’s new head coach in June and has already enjoyed an eye-catching start to his Loftus Road reign.
Beale has led his side to within a point of Championship table-toppers Burnley and won seven of 15 matches in charge so far.