Remi Garde: Villa players have it all to do

New boss Remi Garde admitted Aston Villa have plenty of work to do after the 4-0 thrashing at Everton – but denied anyone had let the club down at Goodison Park.

Garde's second game in charge of Villa saw the Premier League basement boys produce a performance that lacked in attacking threat.

It was, at times, embarrassing on the defensive front and was ruthlessly punished by a rampant Toffees outfit.

The home side were 3-0 up by half-time thanks to Ross Barkley's brace either side of a header from Romelu Lukaku, who then added his second around the hour-mark.

Villa are now without a win in 12 league matches and are five points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

Garde made no secret of his disappointment afterwards, but emphasised the 'energy' he would be dedicating to the task of trying to avoid relegation.

When asked if he felt his players had let the club down, he said: "Not at all. It was not a question of letting it down.

"It was more a question of Everton being a very good side. They are well balanced and have known each other for a long time.

"We have a lot of new players and we have to work all together to, one day, become like Everton."

The Frenchman, who oversaw a 0-0 draw with Manchester City in his first game at the helm, added: "Of course, I was disappointed, and the players were as well.

"We could have done much better. The Premier League is very physically demanding and in the first 45 minutes we couldn't answer. When you can't, you are in trouble, and we were."

Reports suggest Garde could be set to offload Villa club captain Gabby Agbonlahor in the January transfer window.

The Birmingham-born striker has played more than 350 times for Villa, but has not scored in eight months.