James Collins backs Aston Villa to avoid relegation

West Ham United defender James Collins has tipped Aston Villa to stay in the Premier League.

Collins was part of the Hammers side that inflicted on Villa their eighth home league defeat of the season on Saturday, but the Welshman believes that his former club have enough quality to stave off relegation.

When asked whether he thought that Villa would avoid the drop, Collins told reporters: "I'm sure they can. They are a massive club and they've got some big players - obviously the boys up front, if they can score the goals then their home form is going to be big.

"I'm sure they can turn it around and hopefully they can stay up."

Villa are currently 12th in the table, four points clear of 18th-placed West Bromwich Albion.