Aston Villa need new players - Remi Garde

Aston Villa need to sign new players this month to retain hope of avoiding relegation, according to boss Remi Garde.

Villa are 11 points off safety with 18 games left after losing 3-1 to second-from-bottom Sunderland.

"In every league you see some team losing many games and then suddenly winning four, five or six in a row. Why not us?" he said to BBC Sport.

"But for that we will probably need to bring in one, two or three players."

He said: "I'm going to try. This will be a key point to turn the situation in another way in the second half of the season.

"In life and in football you have to believe. If you don't, then you have no chance. But it's more and more difficult. I'm realistic."

Villa have yet to win any of their 10 games since Garde replaced Tim Sherwood at the start of November. The Frenchman recently said he will not quit if they are relegated.