Express & Star

Steve Bruce admits he cannot afford Sheffield Wednesday repeat after defeat piles pressure back on Aston Villa boss

Under-fire Villa boss Steve Bruce has admitted he cannot afford many more slip-ups after Saturday’s defeat to Sheffield Wednesday piled pressure back on his shoulders.

Published

Former Wolves striker Steven Fletcher got the winner as the Owls escaped with a 2-1 victory in what was Bruce’s 100th game in charge.

For the first time at Villa Park, sections of the crowd could be heard calling for the manager’s head, while the hosts were booed off after a defeat which extended their current run to just one win in seven.

Bruce acknowledged he cannot afford too many repeat performances.

“Absolutely, we didn’t play well at all,” he said. “When you’re managing a club like this you’re always under pressure, if that’s the right word. I still think people who can’t pay the bills, and struggle to do that, are under more pressure.

“That’s life. I’ve been in it for long long time. In some people’s eyes I’ll never win them over. I understand that.

“As long as it does not transcend into the team, that’s the thing that will make them edgy, and make the whole stadium edgy. Then it doesn’t become very healthy at all.

“But the crowd have been terrific. I can understand the frustration, we were poor. End of. We were really poor. We deserved nothing from the game.”

Bruce admitted it will now require a sustained run of good form to ease tensions.

He said: “If we get beat or we don’t win a game, it’s a constant cycle.

“Will have to batten down the hatches. The ones who’ve wanted me out since the first day I came in here will be on their high horse that’s for sure.

“But as far as I’m concerned, I’ll go home, kick the cat and come back on Monday ready for work.

“I'm never going to walk away from a challenge - and it's certainly been a challenge.”

Villa have opened talks with Jack Grealish over a new contract. New chief executive Christian Purslow is understood to have met with the 23-year-old’s representatives to begin discussions over a deal which will likely see Grealish become the highest-paid player at the club.

Skipper James Chester is also in line for a new contract in the coming months.