Scott Hogan: United front helped Aston Villa deal with pressure of Championship promotion race

A run of three straight wins has revived hopes of automatic promotion at Villa, who climbed to fourth in the table after Saturday’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Steve Bruce’s men had tumbled out of the top six at one stage last month during a five-game winless run which threatened to derail their campaign.

But striker Hogan believes a unified dressing room has helped Villa cope with both the pressure on their shoulders and the criticism which has come their way during certain stages of the season.

“People can say what they want. There are lads in the there who have been around it long enough,” he said.

“Nothing penetrates the dressing room. We all believe in each other. If someone wants to say it, let them. We all see each other every day and know what we can do. If people want to write, tweet, whatever.

“It is one of the things which gets missed. People look at the names we have in the group and think we are all individuals. People look beyond the fact we really are a tight knit group.”

Hogan credits boss Steve Bruce with helping transform the culture at Villa, after taking charge in October 2016 with the club still reeling from relegation.

“I have not been at Villa long but this is probably one of the best groups they have had here in terms of morale and the way we get on,” he said.

“There are no cliques or anything like that. It is a real group. It’s really good in the changing rooms, around the place.

“The gaffer is good on that. He creates that culture and lets the lads have a laugh because he knows there’s big pressure on them.

“We’ve got to try and relieve pressure.

“He comes down on us when we haven’t done well, like after the Brentford game last month.

“He’s been a player, he knows what it’s about.

“It’s just lads getting together, we work hard, we’ve got good coaching and it’s coming together nicely.

“Hopefully now we’ll kick on.”

Bruce has admitted keeping every member of the squad happy is his toughest job. Yet, according to Hogan, he is succeeding.

"There’s lads who don’t get involved when they’re sat at home and they’re a bit upset, obviously," he said.

“But in training there’s no sulking, everyone is trying to get in the team.

“There’s a culture where if you train well, you’re in. That’s a big part of it.

“There’s no major fall-outs. Of course there’s arguments, that’s football, but it really is a strong group."