Manager David O'Leary today pleaded with Aston Villa's fans not to turn against his players as they strive to pull out of the Premiership relegation zone.
Angry supporters are planning a mass demonstration against club chairman Doug Ellis over the lack of funding in the team before this weekend's home game with Southampton.
But O'Leary is concerned that the already fragile confidence of his players will be further affected by fan unrest and has called for patience.
He said: "The fans and I want to see success at Aston Villa. The fans come and want to see a good football side having success so they are going to be frustrated.
"But it is no good them getting frustrated and lowering the confidence of the players because that it is going to make it worse.
"This season more than any other the team is going to need the support of the fans. But if the crowd start getting onto them then that can start to undermine players."
Supporters groups have united under the banner of `Villa Fans Combined' to try to put pressure on Ellis and the remainder of the board to provide the investment they feel is vital if Villa are to survive the season.
Villa remain anchored in the bottom three after yesterday's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham and are without a Premiership win since September 20th.
PA