No sooner had Aston Villa fallen to a 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Fulham than Gerrard was relieved of his duties as Villans boss, with the fans already turning on him inside Craven Cottage during the game.
The defeat left Aston Villa level on points with 18th placed Wolves, with only the criteria of goals scored saving them from dropping into the relegation zone.
Saunders thought Aston Villa would not be as ruthless as sacking Gerrard almost then and there, thinking they would give him at least until the morning after to break the news.
From his own experience, Saunders thinks that Gerrard had lost the confidence of the higher-ups at Aston Villa and that is the reason for the quick dismissal.
Speaking on talkSPORT about Gerrard’s sacking, Saunders said: “That was a bit sharp, wasn’t it?
“I thought he’d make it until breakfast, I thought he’d get to keep his job until breakfast but they have just slashed his legs off within 40 minutes of the game.
“I’ve managed six teams and been sacked twice and the first time I got sacked, I got a phone call from the chief executive and the second time I got sacked was right after a game.
“And I said can’t you wait until Monday? Knee-jerk reaction.
“This looks like, as I’ve been a manager I am trying to work out what’s happened there, why is it so quick, just sounds like he’s had an argument with them all.
“He’s gone sack me if you like, but whatever, it was a bit quick.”
There are claims that Gerrard was dropped off at his home in the Midlands by the team bus returning from Craven Cottage, such was the decidedness of the resolution taken by Aston Villa.
