Aston Villa boss Remi Garde admitted defeat to Stoke was difficult to take as they edged ever closer to relegation from the Premier League.Villas survival mission looks ever more impossible as they remain seven points adrift of the pack after a Marko Arnautovic double helped City to a 2-1 victory at the Britannia Stadium.Their 17th league defeat in 27 matches this season was a familiar tale, with defensive deficiencies and attacking ineptitude paving the way for the loss Although Garde felt his side recovered from their 6-0 thrashing against Liverpool in their previous match, he admitted their soft centre eventually cost them.It was a very difficult defeat [to take], the Frenchman told Sky Sports.I think we played quite well in the first half, we defended well and created chances, but we know that it is difficult for us to create chances at the moment. A Villa supporter holds a banner protesting against owner Randy Lerner We started slowly in the first 15 minutes of the second half and conceded the penalty and then the second one was a strange goal [which] for me is the fragility of the team.The travelling Villa supporters vented their anger at the clubs owner by chanting Randy Lerner out, but Garde insists it did not distract his players.Not at all a distraction for me, he said. I was concentrating on the game and I think the players [were] doing the same. Leandro Bacuna says a sloppy start to the second half was costly This is not part of our job to comment on the situation. My job is to concentrate on the job. I try to keep this team as high as I can with the tools that I have got and Im only focused on that. Im not here to comment on any other things.Weve improved our team spirit on what we have done, or not done, in this game.We were at the same level we were at before the Liverpool game, but then we were without our attacking forward, so didnt create enough.Also See:Stoke 2-1 Aston VillaAs it happenedGarde questions squads commitmentVilla fixturesWholesale Yeezy . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. Cheap Yeezy From China . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. https://www.wholesaleyeezyauthentic.com/ . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Yeezy Shoes . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Wholesale Yeezy Authentic . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked.Mick Fannings emotional return to the scene of last years shark attack is good to go.The surfing champion made worldwide headlines after fighting off a shark during the final of the World Surf League event last year at Jeffreys Bay.Fannings return to the South African break for this years event had been thrown into doubt last week when he sprained an ankle.But the three-time world champion declared himself fit on the eve of the competition window opening later on Wednesday.Good to go tomorrow, Fanning wrote on his Instagram account.Ankle will hopefully hold in for the event, had a surf on it this morning and went better than expected.Super excited to go again.Fanning is only competing partt-time on this years tour after a taxing 2015 which included the shark attack in South Africa, a marriage breakdown and the death of his older brother.ddddddddddddHe confirmed last week coming back to take part in this years J-Bay Open was something he simply had to do.J-Bay was always on the cards, Fanning said.The reason why is Ive just had so many great memories there and, to leave J-Bay on the note that happened last year, it just didnt seem right.Fanning has been drawn against American Conner Coffin and Brazils Alejo Muniz in the opening heat of round one. ' ' '