Tim Sherwood: 'Aston Villa still in need of points to avoid relegation'

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood remains "confident" that his side can avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

The Villans have turned around their fortunes under the leadership of the former Tottenham Hotspur boss, having lost just three of their last nine games since the start of March.

Heading into the final two fixtures of the campaign, the West Midlands outfit find themselves four points clear of the drop zone and within touching distance of safety.

"We're confident. I'm glad we've got ourselves in a position where we have a chance of retaining our Premier League status," Sherwood told reporters ahead of this weekend's trip to face Southampton.

"The fans have been great since I came in. We needed them then and we're going to need them now. We're still fighting to stay in the division.

"It is a very important game. We need the points and we know it will be a very difficult game down there."

Queens Park Rangers and Burnley have already been relegated from the top flight, while Hull City are the current favourites to join them in next season's Championship.