Tim Sherwood: 'Too soon to consider relegation battle'

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has revealed that he remains confident that his team will retain their Premier League status past this season.

The West Midlands outfit have picked up just four points from seven games, but Sherwood has insisted that it is "too soon" for the club to be thinking about a potential relegation battle.

The 46-year-old told reporters: "I know the job comes with pressure - that's part and parcel of it. I'll stand up as manager and the players must stand up as players. It's my job with the group of players we have to make sure we get up the league.

"It's too early to put us in a relegation battle. It's not what we wanted for the return of points. We're a young group, a new group. I'm confident we'll be okay."

Villa host 17th-placed Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, with three points required to move them out of the drop zone.