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Tim Sherwood says woes will be gone next season if Aston Villa stay up

Tim Sherwood has pledged to banish Aston Villa's relegation struggles -- if they survive this season.

Sherwood's side are second bottom of the Premier League standings, languishing in the drop zone on goal difference, ahead of Tuesday's home midlands derby against West Brom.

They have battled at the wrong end of the table for the last five campaigns and have lost their last seven games, but Sherwood vowed to end the troubled times -- if they stay up this term.

He said: "It's no laughing matter now. You can't tip-toe around the situation. The reality is we're in it, but the reality is we've got an opportunity to get ourselves out of it. If we can get ourselves out of it, we're never coming in this situation again. Never.

"If we get out of this situation this season, we ain't going to be in it next year because I will have the opportunity to build something and I won't let that happen again.

"I think there is enough to work with over a long period -- I'm just hoping I've got enough time here to save the situation."

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Newcastle kept Villa in the bottom three and meant Sherwood has lost his first two games in charge.

They face Albion at Villa Park again in the FA Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, and the 46-year-old has urged his team to handle the pressure.

He said: "I don't think [defeat] will be the end of the world, but if we win the two games it's a huge shot in the arm for confidence [and] a much-needed boost for the fans who have been in the doldrums for a few years now.

"There's no getting away from [pressure]. I'm not trying to put any extra pressure on guys -- there's already enough. They're at a big club, at the wrong end of table -- that's pressure.

"I can't hype it up any more. I'm trying to flush them out, find out who have got the [courage] to go and do the job."

Villa will definitely be missing Kieran Richardson and Philippe Senderos due to calf problems, and could also be without Ron Vlaar as well -- also with a calf injury.

Sherwood twice missed out on the West Brom job in the last year, being beaten to the post by Alan Irvine last summer and then Tony Pulis in January. But he dismissed any extra spice was on the game and insisted he is at the right club.

"Not at all. It's a good little club and it wasn't right for me and it wasn't right for them. I'm delighted I'm at this massive football club now," he added.

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