Aston Villa boss Remi Garde believes the fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season will go to the very last game next May.

The Frenchman took over at Villa Park from the sacked Tim Sherwood earlier this month and appeared to have an immediate impact on the team as they held then league leaders Manchester City to a goalless draw at Villa Park before the international break.

However normal service resumed on Saturday with a dismal 4-0 mauling against Everton at Goodison Park, which has left the Villains at the bottom of the table with just five points from their opening 13 matches and five points adrift of safety.

Despite the bleak result and situation the club find themselves in, Garde is confident Villa will start picking up points to ensure that they are not consigned to Championship football long before their season-ending trip to Arsenal on May 15 next year.

He said: “Nothing will change until the last day we have to play a game in May, because probably the last game on the last day will be crucial for Aston Villa, and for other sides too.

“It’s a long way, and maybe some days will be good, and some will be bad – it’s a very bad day today. The confidence is not very high, but it hasn’t been. We knew that.

“I have to find different words, I have to instil more confidence by offering a different approach, because the previous one didn’t give points.”

Villa are 1.40 to be relegated to the Championship this season.