Houllier upbeat about Villa fate

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is trying to stay positive during his side’s battle to avoid relegation.

Houllier’s men are in 14th place in the English Premier League, but just one point clear of the drop zone with eight games to play.

Although they secured the services of prolific striker Darren Bent from Sunderland in January, Villa’s fortunes have continued to wane, and the Midlands club have won only one of their past six league games.

That run reached a head a fortnight ago with a 1-0 loss at home against rivals Wolves, prompting supporters to voice their displeasure at Houllier.

But Houllier said he can understand the frustration of the fans, and is not shying away from the task of keeping Villa up as they head to Goodison Park to play Everton on Saturday.

“We have eight games ahead of us now and never mind what has happened in the past,” Houllier said.

“We know exactly where we stand and the difficulty of our task.”

“You have to remain positive. You can’t spend your time reflecting on what happened.”

“This is our league and the eight games ahead are vital for our future. Everybody is concerned because we are not dreamers.”

“I can really share the fans’ frustration and anxiety.”

“But their influence is so important for us, especially at this stage of the season.”

“They are fantastic supporters and, with their support, they can be the 12th man every game.”