Potter understands Chelsea fans' 'anger and frustration' after defeat to Aston Villa

Chelsea manager Graham Potter said he understood why the club's fans are "frustrated, disappointed and angry" after the season hit a new low with a 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.

Potter, appointed to replace sacked Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel last September, has been under increasing pressure amid a season which has now, following Saturday's defeat to Stamford Bridge, seen Chelsea drop into the bottom half in the Premier League.

The Blues appeared to be turning a corner with three straight wins, including beating Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, but a 2-2 draw with struggling Everton prior to the international break and this loss to Villa, who moved above the hosts into 10th in the standings, has placed the spotlight back on Potter.

Boos and jeers rang around Stamford Bridge at full time as goals in each half from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn secured victory for the visitors, while once again Chelsea dominated possession and created several chances but failed to score. By comparison, Villa scored with both of their shots on target.

"I understand when you lose at home that people will be frustrated, disappointed and angry," Potter said. "No one is happy with where we are in the league table and we have to work hard to improve that.

"It’s an emotional game and I can certainly understand the frustrations after a home defeat."

Assessing what went wrong for his side in their 10th league defeat of the season, Potter believes a lack of quality in front of goal and in key moments defensively proved the difference. A defensive mix-up between Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly led directly to Watkins' opener, while at the other end Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, and substitute