Villa Struggling, But Garde Has No Regrets

“We have done our homework on them”.

The Villa fans protested with the players at the side of the pitch, which resulted in an exchange of words involving skipper Richards, while they also confronted the players as they boarded the team coach afterwards.

Garde also delivered a damning assessment of Villa’s frailties after the game by admitting there was little difference in quality between the two squads, even though Villa spent over £50 million in the summer.

“In the long-term, for sure, the squad needs overhauling but during this transfer window, as I have said, January is not the best time to do things because it is very hard for many reasons”.

The chief executive, Tom Fox, is flying out on Monday for talks with the owner, Randy Lerner, to see if there is any way the damage can be repaired by using the current transfer window to bring in new players.

Villa’s team bus was besieged by angry supporters on leaving the ground, though Garde remained unfazed and fully accepted the fans’ ire.

Garde is desperate for reinforcements to help rock bottom Premier League Villa, who are 11 points from safety. “At some point it is important that the Aston Villa voice is not only mine”.

‘Yes. It is very frustrating but I came into a situation that I knew could be uncomfortable to me or for signing players, ‘ he added.

“I don’t want to discuss too much about that today”, he said.

“At some point I can not explain and am not in the position to judge what happened before and whether it was right or wrong because I wasn’t here”.

Micah Richards is expected to shake off an ankle injury to play tonight but Carlos Sanchez and Alan Hutton (both hamstring) are out along with Adama Traore (foot), and Agbonlahor is struggling with a back problem.

A last minute Nakhi Wells penalty took Reading’s tie at Town to a replay on Saturday after goals from Matej Vydra and Hal Robson-Kanu had put the Royals 2-1 in front. When we go there perhaps it will become a bit hostile for them and if their fans get impatient or anything like that it will probably work in our favour.

In contrast to Villa, Palace are seventh in the table, and after three games without a league victory over the festive period they returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-1 victory at Southampton in the FA Cup. “We have got a set-up where the players can hurt teams away from home”.