[monks data]

Premier League

Jan 2, 2016 at 3pm UK

Sunderland
3-1
Aston Villa

van Aanholt (30'), Defoe (73', 92')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Gil (63')

Remi Garde: 'We have to keep believing'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 02 January 2016

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde refuses to accept that his team will be relegated this season, despite their 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Sunderland on Saturday.

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde has insisted that his team will continue to battle in the Premier League despite their precarious position at the bottom of the table.

Villa were beaten 3-1 at Sunderland in Saturday's bottom-of-the-table clash, which has left Garde's side rooted to the bottom, still 11 points from safety with 18 games remaining.

The Frenchman has conceded that it will be difficult to move clear of the drop zone, but has vowed to be active in the January transfer window in a bid to improve the quality of the squad that he inherited from Tim Sherwood.

"I'm going to try [to sign players]. In life and football you have to believe – if you don't you have no chance. But it's more and more difficult. But every season in every league, a side can keep losing and suddenly win four, five or six in a row. But for that probably we will need to bring in one, two or three new players," Garde told BBC Sport.

"Today I didn't see a side who didn't give everything they could. When you concede so many goals it's difficult to win games. You cannot be positive when you lose. I'm not here to lose – I'm here to try to make the team win.

"Today we were so close. We didn't play badly. I can blame my players in certain situations – when you concede a goal, it's always from a mistake. I see a team who wanted to fight. But we need some quality."

Villa have only won one of their 20 league matches this season.