Villa must return to winning ways: Houllier

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier admits his side are in desperate need of a win to ease their relegation fears.

Villa are just three points above the bottom three heading into Saturday’s game with Blackburn and they have gone three games without a win.

And after a two-week break caused by the FA Cup, Houllier admits now is the time for his side to show what they are made of.

“We have had a fortnight (without a game) but we have trained particularly hard this week to prepare for the final third of the season,” he said.

“It is a vital game for us. I know Blackburn have got more points than us but regarding the fact to escape relegation, we need a win, let’s face it.”

“We need a very good performance and a very good result. Would a win ease relegation fears? If you do win a game, you’ve got 33 points and you are in the top half.”

“The way it is, it is very tight for everyone and we have got to live with that. You only have to think that West Brom were in the European positions at one stage (to see how tight it is).”

But Houllier is convinced his side are well prepared to face Blackburn at Villa Park.

“They are a team that knows us very well,” he said.

“It is a team that plays good football. I was impressed by the quality of their football when they played against us in the FA Cup (which ended in a 3-1 Villa victory).”

But Villa will have to do without three key players as they attempt to extend their run of one defeat in eight, with Carlos Cuellar and James Collins injured, while Jean Makoun serves the first of a three-game ban for his red card at Blackpool.

“The two players who won’t be involved at all are Cuellar, who picked up an injury at Blackpool, and also Collins who has a slight pull in his calf and could be available against Manchester City (on Wednesday) – but not for this game,” Houllier said.

“Makoun is suspended for three games. I think he will learn. He thought he would be suspended for one game. In France it is one game for that tackle.”

“In England, the sanction is three games. He will learn from that.”