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Steven Gerrard set to implement his 'unit coaches' system from Rangers in Aston Villa overhaul as coaches Gary McAllister, Tom Culshaw and Michael Beale prepare to be allocated players

Steven Gerrard plans to boost Aston Villa’s performances by deploying the ‘unit coaches’ he used to great effect while manager of Rangers.

Ahead of his first match as Villa boss, against Brighton at Villa Park on Saturday, Gerrard has promised to implement new training methods and style of play as he tries to build on the work done by Dean Smith, who took over with Villa a mid-table Championship club and established them in the Premier League during his three years at the helm.

Yet Gerrard must stop a run of five straight defeats that cost Smith has job and left Villa only two points above the relegation zone.