Time for players to restore some Villa pride

On current form, the visit of the champions should inspire dread, yet in the circumstances will at least provide a brief distraction from the managerial search and steady stream of negative stories concerning the club's senior players.

The challenge for caretaker boss Eric Black is to restore some fight into a team which in recent weeks has appeared resigned to its fate.

A run of six straight defeats might have ended once and for all any serious chance of beating the drop but that will not excuse a lack of effort or focus.

"The players need to show something over these final games," says former striker Garry Thompson, who in 1987 was a member of the last Villa side to be relegated. "They need to show some pride and that they are professional people.

"They haven't done that nearly enough this season. They have become too used to getting beat."

With Garde's departure, more focus has fallen on the Villa dressing room and the resistance which met the Frenchman when he tried to implement his methods.

Players have been criticised by former stars including Paul McGrath and Stan Collymore, while Micah Richards, Jack Grealish and Gabriel Agbonlahor have further antagonised an already furious fanbase with their exploits on social media.

Black's task will be to control this volatile environment but Thompson does not believe the Scot is the type to shirk the challenge.

"I've met him a few times and he is the kind of person who speaks his mind and isn't afraid to tell players what he thinks," said Thompson.

"It's vital for every dressing room to have a healthy debate. Players need to accept if they are under-performing they will be dug out by their team-mates.

"In the best dressing rooms people can say what they think and then just move on but the players at Villa don't seem to have that.

"They don't seem to respond to criticism well or have the fire or desire to win at any cost. You can have great players but without work-rate you have nothing."