1 Aston Villa
2 Swansea
by Simon Williams
at Villa Park

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood was given the boot yesterday, just hours after his side’s 2-1 home defeat to Swansea on Saturday.

“It’s out of my control,” Sherwood had said when questioned about his managerial future.

“I can only control what I can control and on Monday I’ll be working as hard I’ve done since I came to this club.

“It ain’t an easy job this but it’s one I love and one I’m not going to give up very easily.”

Yet the under-fire coach, who guided Villa to safety and an FA Cup final last season, didn’t even make it to Monday with the club announcing his departure in a statement that read: “Aston Villa Football Club has parted company with manager Tim Sherwood today.

“The board has monitored the performances closely all season and believes the results on the pitch were simply not good enough and that a change is imperative.”

Jordan Ayew headed the hosts into the lead against the Swans to give the Villans some hope just after the hour mark before Gylfi Sigurdsson curled in a stunning 25-yard free-kick to level scores shortly after.

Then with just three minutes left to play Andre Ayew, the brother of Jordan, scored from close range to condemn Villa to their sixth straight defeat.

For Swansea, the victory was their first in six games and will ease the pressure on manager Garry Monk, whose future had been plunged into uncertainty following a bad run of results.

“We’ve shown already this season what we’re capable of and I don’t focus on the circus that goes on outside,” said Monk.

“It’s important that we reach our standards and focus on performing well.”

Villa now begin their hunt for a new manager with the squad managed in the interim by Kevin MacDonald.