Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa stars Stewart Downing and Darren Bent target win at Stoke to boost Gerard Houllier
Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing has targeted three points against Stoke tomorrow in a bid to provide a boost to absent manager Gerard Houllier.[LNB]Houllier will spend the Easter weekend under observation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after falling ill on Wednesday night.[LNB]Assistant boss Gary McAllister will take charge tomorrow and it remains to be seen whether Houllier will return to the dugout before the end of the season.[LNB] Doing it for the gaffer: Bent and team-mate Downing hope they can lift the spirits of hospitalised gaffer Houllier[LNB]Out for the season: Houllier is unlikely to return this term[LNB]England winger Downing told the club's website: 'Obviously, everyone at the club is concerned for the manager.[LNB]'It's never nice, an experience like this, especially for his family. But the news is that he's going to be all right and that's pleasing and reassuring. A good win against Stoke on Saturday will help him no doubt.[LNB]'In fact, the last couple of weeks have been good and I'm sure the gaffer will want us to continue in this vein.[LNB]'That's what Gary McAllister told us, that the gaffer wants us to carry on playing like we're playing and to win as many points as we can between now and the end of the season.[LNB]'Hopefully, a good result on Saturday will be the perfect boost for him.'[LNB]Striker Darren Bent echoed Downing's sentiments, saying: 'All of the players wish the gaffer a speedy recovery.[LNB]'We want him to be back as soon as possible. But his health comes first and we need him to get better and hopefully he'll be back soon.'[LNB] Houllier's Aston Villa job in doubt as Frenchman suffers fresh health scareManagers will pay the price if they don't look after health, warn expertsPressure point: Is Houllier a victim of extra stress on bosses? All the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Darren Bent, Stewart Downing, Gerard Houllier, Gary McAllister Places: United Kingdom
