Aston Villa have 'no hope' of avoiding relegation this season, says David Platt

Former Aston Villa midfielder David Platt believes the club are doomed in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Remi Garde's side slipped to another defeat on Saturday, losing 2-1 at Stoke, and find themselves eight points from safety with just 11 games to play.

Based on their showings so far this season, Platt believes that is too much of a gap for them to make up.

"It's shocking," Platt, speaking as a studio guest on Super Sunday, told Sky Sports.

"They had a couple of games where they put some points on the table but I don't hold out any hope for them staying in the Premier League and when teams drop down - especially on the back of winning so few games - it's very difficult to bounce back."

The Midlands club have struggled to maintain their Premier League status over the last few seasons and have ultimately managed to do so. Not this time though, according to Platt.

"They've looked for the last few years like they were going to get relegated," added the 49-year-old.

"There might be a lot of players in that dressing room who thought they were too good to go down and that's not what you need when you drop into the Championship because it's a very difficult league.

They've looked for the last few years like they were going to get relegated.

"The players that they've bought, they've bought as Premier League players. If you are going to get rid of them, how are you going to get rid of them if they're on big contracts.

"It's a great club - a Premier League club in every sense but not what they're producing on the pitch."