Remi Garde hails ‘brave’ Micah Richards after Aston Villa captain confronts angry fans at FA Cup clash

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde applauded captain Micah Richards after the defender stood up to a group of angry fans after they were held by Wycombe in the FA Cup.

Boos sounded from the away stands as the Villans could only muster a 1-1 draw with the League Two side, as the fourth-tier minnows sealed a replay trip to Villa Park.

The Premier League's basement side took the lead through Richards' early goal, only for Joe Jacobson to level from the penalty spot.

After the final whistle, Richards battled to calm the protests of fans who criticised the skipper and the team from behind the dugout at Adams Park.

And Villa boss Garde believes Richards was right to take the time to address the fans' pitchside frustrations in person.

"It was brave of him to do that," said the French boss.

"As professionals we have to face our responsibilities - not only Micah, me and all the players.

"To be fair I didn't see the incident, but I've been told about it.

"I understand that the fans could be angry. We have to accept that, as a player, a manager, everybody at the club has to accept that criticism, because we are not winning - that's football.

"The situation with Aston Villa is very difficult and makes some silly things happen sometimes.

"Everybody has to keep calm, face their responsibilities, look in the mirror and ask themselves what they can do to get out of this difficult situation."

Garde has now gone ten matches without victory in charge of the Villans, with the extra fixture in the shape of the third round replay only adding to the pressure on the beleaguered boss.

The coach hinted he would quit if he felt he could not reverse Villa's wretched form, but accepted he must quickly find victories.

"When you are not winning the manager is always making bad decisions," said Garde, responding to criticism for withdrawing stand-out midfielder Carles Gil, with fans chanting, ‘you don't know what you're doing’.

"You can always argue it was a bad or good decision: I know what I'm doing but sometimes it's not working.

"I know how it is in football, I'm not especially under pressure, but I'm not winning games.

"The day I don't feel I'm able to do anything positive for this football club you will know it."

WATCH: Aston Villa fans tell Micah Richards 'there's no passion' after 1-1 draw with Wycombe