Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has admitted he must get back to basics after losing assistant Michael Beale in the summer.

Beale, Gerrard's long-term coach, joined QPR as manager in the summer and was replaced by former Blackpool coach Neil Critchley.

Villa have struggled this season, and Gerrard admits he has moved too quickly forward with his new tactics.

"The change of coach wasn't ideal, it never is," Gerrard told the Express & Star. "You lose a coach you have worked so long with, that you are so comfortable around.

"Then we bring another top coach in who wants to move forward quickly, who wants to take the team where everyone sees it. I am the same, I want to move forward just as quickly.

"Sometimes you have to stop and think and analyse. Sometimes it takes maybe a step back or a bit more patience to get where you want to. If it means we have to do that, we will do it. Where we have been in the league is not where we want to be."

He added: "From a personal point of view I have maybe been guilty of trying to move it forward too quickly.

"You have an idea in your head of how you want it to look, how you want to play. Maybe it is a slower process, maybe it is going to take a little more time."