Aston Villa boss Remi Garde: 'Players are lacking confidence'

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde has conceded that his players are struggling for confidence due to their poor form in the Premier League.

Villa extended their winless run in the top flight to 13 matches in their defeat to Watford at Villa Park, leaving them seven points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.

Garde believes that his team are lacking belief due to their struggles this season, and is unsure whether their fortunes will improve in the coming weeks.

"Yes, it could be [a confidence crisis]. It's difficult because the crowd is behind us but sometimes some of my players seem to be a little bit disturbed or fragile regarding the demanding crowd," Garde told Sky Sports News.

"We have to deal with that. We need more confidence of course.

"You can say it's a crisis, you can say we're in trouble. But I think the defeat is a bit severe, we should have drawn at least, but we haven't. We have to work and still believe because you never know in football. Maybe things will turn."

Villa are next in action against Southampton next week at St Mary's Stadium.