By Dan Harrison

James Collins reckons Villa's hard-fought win over Everton proved the spirit in the camp is as strong as ever.

The claret and blues produced the perfect response to back-to-back defeats against Newcastle and Rapid Vienna, with a gutsy performance against the Toffees.

Collins described the display as one of "grit" and "steel".

And the Welshman insists no-one can doubt the exceptional spirit in the Villa squad.

"You never heard anyone here say there is no spirit here," he said.

"We always knew it was there and we've shown everyone who was maybe starting to doubt us that we are still a good team.

"I think we knew we had to go out and show a bit of grit and steel and the boys were throwing their bodies on the line and tackling.

"That is what you have got to do because Everton are a good team and you have got to do those dirty things, if you like, to get a result.

"We showed all last year and again this year, we've got an unbelievable team.

"The quality and the people we've got in the dressing room is right up there with any team so we have certainly got back on track with the win."

Collins says victory over the Toffees proves talk of a crisis was premature.

It was Villa's second win in three Barclays Premier League games and the defender hopes the team have done enough to prove last weekend's crushing defeat on Tyneside was a one-off.

"Hopefully people can forget about that [Newcastle result] and look at this result, what we have done here - the defending and the way we have worked together," he added.

"I am sure people should look at that rather than the Newcastle because it was a bit of a one-off.

"Everybody is saying it is doom and gloom but we are fourth in the league.

"We've won two out of three and we've got the result in between which wasn't great.

"But we are fourth in the league. I know it is early days but it is always nice to look at the league and you're up there, whatever time of the season."