"I can say that this is the best changing room I've ever been in"

Aston Villa defender James Collins has backed the Midlands outfit to avoid relegation despite a torrid season which has seen them regularly flirting with the relegation zone.

Currently in 14th place in the Premier League table, the Villans are all too aware that with only 8 points splitting Wigan Athletic at the bottom and Newcastle United in ninth they are still far from safety.

Nevertheless, denying suggestions that a split in the camp had arisen, due to unhappiness over the training methods employed by Gerard Houllier and assistant coach Gary McAllister, the Welsh stopper made clear that he and his teammates were united as the season reaches the business end.

"The sprit has never been in question. I can say that this is the best changing room I've ever been in,” he said in the aftermath of Villa’s 1-0 win over Newcastle.

"The lads are great together, everyone gets on, and we are all fighting for the same thing.

"No one wants to be in a team that has been relegated. We showed great spirit out there against Newcastle. For a club of Villa's size it would be disastrous for everyone to go down.

"For any team in the Premier League, relegation is a disaster but Villa is a massive club. To be in the position we are in, is not acceptable.

"We know everyone hasn't performed and we need to step it up to the way we performed last season.

"We set out before the Everton  game last weekend on an eight-game season and we've got four points from the first two of those matches which is massive.

"It was a big win on Sunday but we don't want to get carried away and hopefully we can take confidence from that and get three points at West Ham."