Garde: Villa ‘lack efficiency’ but deserved a point

Ian Watson
Remi Garde: Yet to taste victory in eight games

Remi Garde: Yet to taste victory in eight games

Aston Villa equalled an unwanted record after defeat to Watford but Remi Garde still believes he can revive the club’s fortunes this season.

Saturday’s 3-2 loss leaves Villa rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points – matching the lowest haul after 14 Barclays Premier League matches.

Swindon in 1993-94, Sunderland in 2005-06 and QPR in 2012-13 also had only five points at this stage of the campaign and all three were relegated come May.

Villa are five points adrift of safety and Garde, after three games as manager, is acutely aware of the task facing him but remains optimistic.

Told that some will now be writing off Villa’s chance, the Frenchman said: “I heard that already and it will be over if we carry on that way but today I think we deserved a point, to be fair.

“Not in terms of the result, but the play was better. And I believe we must play well if we are to win points.

“When you always have to run behind in the score it is difficult but we had spells where we were good and I think we deserve better.

“But there were mistakes. We lack efficiency in both boxes and maybe we had lack of patience because we knew it was important to win.

“Because of this we didn’t keep the balance like we did in first half, giving them chance to counter-attack so easily.

“It is difficult as obviously we have a lack of confidence both defensively and offensively.

“It is not a criticism but everybody has to improve their levels, and we can.”