Villa support under-fire Houllier

Last updated : 07 April 2011 By BBC Sport

Aston Villa have given manager Gerard Houllier their "total support" as he attempts to guide the club to Premier League safety.The Midlands side are only two points above the relegation zone and face a tricky run-in, starting with a home game against Newcastle on Sunday.

"Yes, he has our total support," chief executive Paul Faulkner told AVTV.

"We're focused on the last seven games, getting the points we need right now to get out of the situation we're in."

Former Liverpool manager Houllier has been in charge of Villa since September 2010, when he was brought in to replace Martin O'Neill who resigned at the start of the season.

Villa have only won one game in the last seven and Houllier has been criticised by the club's fans during recent matches.

The 63-year-old French manager said the side needed 44 points to guarantee top-flight football next season - at the moment they have 34 points with seven games remaining.

Houllier said: "The number of points needed to stay up will be higher than normal.

"I think ideally 10 points will put you in a safe position and that is what we want.

"It could be eight or nine but you do not know.

"We have four home games and three away and what we require is results.

"Excuses are not an option. We want results and points."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport