To say Remi Garde has a huge job on his hands is not an overstatement.

Aston Villa are bottom of the table, seven points from safety, and following today’s 3-2 defeat against Watford have now equalled the Premier League record for the lowest points tally after 14 matches. Furthermore, they have equalled two unwanted club records – going 13 league games without a win and eight successive home league matches without victory.

The Frenchman felt his side’s efforts were worth a reward against the Hornets but asked if it was a painful defeat, he said: “It is painful for my players as well to play in this game and to have this result. I think we deserved a better result to be fair because of the way we played this game.

“I was quite pleased with the way we attacked and the way we put pressure on them in the first half. But then we had a lack of efficiency in the offensive box but also the defensive box.

“The first goal we conceded was very poor defensively on our side and then you have to come from behind all the game it’s very difficult, especially at home.”

Villa were humbled 4-0 at Everton last weekend and Garde acknowledged this performance was an improvement but continued: “I still believe that to win games you have to play well. With the players we’ve got I’m not sure we can play different football. It’s quite difficult for them because we obviously have a lack of confidence offensively and defensively which is tough.

"Today we were not especially lucky, we were against City [the 0-0 draw against Manchester City in Garde’s first game in charge], but today we conceded a second silly goal and didn’t have so much luck.”

Watford’s second goal – an own goal by Alan Hutton – was scored minutes after play had restarted following a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

“It shouldn’t have [been],” Garde responded when asked if the stoppage had been a factor in the concession of the second goal. “We were sorry for their goalkeeper but if the interruption is compulsory you have to cope with that, stay concentrated but of course you can imagine this silly goal was maybe a consequence of that."