SOCCER:ASTON VILLA supporters finally got an apology from Gerard Houllier, though it was hardly heartfelt as the Frenchman questioned whether he had done anything wrong at Anfield on Monday night. Houllier seemed bemused that his behaviour and comments at Liverpool had led to such severe criticism from the Aston Villa fans and admitted he was "stung" by the strength of their reaction.

What sort of reception the Villa manager will receive when he walks along the touchline before today’s home game against their neighbours West Bromwich Albion remains to be seen.

But there was a sense yesterday that he was in danger of doing more harm than good with his latest remarks.

“If you want me to apologise, I apologise. Even if I don’t feel I have done something wrong in terms of intentions,” said Houllier as he became increasingly agitated.

The unrest surfaced after Houllier’s first return to Liverpool since he left the club as manager in 2004. Villa fans were annoyed that he touched the “This is Anfield” sign before kick-off but their anger deepened at the end of the game, when the manager waved to the Kop yet failed to acknowledge the travelling fans.

When Houllier later said: “If I was going to lose 3-0 to anyone, it would be Liverpool as I like Liverpool,” it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Aware of the backlash, Houllier issued a statement the day after the Liverpool match, when he said he understood the “fans’ feeling of hurt”. He omitted, however, to use the word “sorry” and that oversight intensified the fury among a section of the supporters.

When General Charles C Krulak, a non-executive director, waded into the debate by posting an internet message saying the fans that wanted Houllier sacked “had the right to feel that way”, it fanned the flames once more.

Houllier, who suggested Krulak’s interference had been unhelpful, maintains he never intended to cause any offence at Anfield, although his claim that he was trying to be “humorous” with his post-match comments makes little sense. A fourth successive defeat on the back of another poor performance that leaves Villa two points above the relegation zone hardly seems the right time to be cracking jokes, unless Birmingham City supporters were his target audience.

“If (the fans) felt hurt it was not at all what was meant,” said Houllier, who claimed his remarks had been “misinterpreted”. “I was surprised to see them say touching this (the Anfield sign) was a huge offence. I am hurting like they are but I am not going to forget the experience I had with Liverpool and Lyon and I want to have the same here. It was totally taken out of context. It was not what it was meant. If it hurts, then I am sorry.”

The suspicion remains, however, that Houllier has done lasting damage to his relationship with the Villa fans, who never forgave David O’Leary after he labelled them “fickle” and who fell out with Martin O’Neill over his decision to pick a reserve team against CSKA Moscow. The only thing that can improve Houllier’s standing right now is results and the portents are not promising. Villa have won one of their past 10 league games (against a weakened Blackpool) and conceded two or more goals in their last six games.

The malaise has become so alarming that Houllier held a meeting with club owner Randy Lerner this week. “He knows we are going through a really bad run. We have got to stick together and push up. It is as simple as that.”