Brucey Bonus Time
When Reading’s last-gasp shot flew across the face of the Villa goal seconds after Villa had taken the lead with a last-minute penalty, it potentially (hopefully) signalled a change of fortune in Villa’s season. Cast your mind back to late Gollini clearances that have cruelly rebounded and led to opposition equalisers and you’ll know what I mean.
While it was a step up from the recent Wolves game, it wasn’t a convincing Villa performance by any means and there is a lot of work in terms of team bonding to do (which Di Matteo failed to start), but a new manager bounce and a confidence-boosting win should hopefully now propel Villa onwards and upwards.
The next step for Steve Bruce is to turn home draws into regular home wins, with the recent Wolves game showcasing what has been going wrong at Villa Park.
If they can follow-up victory at Reading with a home win against the only unbeaten away team in the Championship, Fulham, then the wheels of improvement will truly be in motion.
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Here’s five reasons to be cheerful as Villa fans…
3. Vocal Bruce
One big criticism of Roberto Di Matteo was he was far too casual in approach at Villa, his touch line demeanor typified that. Steve Bruce is a different animal and stands on the touch line to impact the game.
The new Villa boss’s hands were tied to some extent against Wolves in terms of substitutes, having to make two like-for-like replacements of injured players. Against Reading though, his changes clearly impacted the game with the introduction of Jordan Ayew directly leading to the winner. Ayew both won the final minute penalty and dispatched it.
There’s no doubt the Villa players will respond better to a manager that seems to them as being in the trenches with them. Especially considering the grit and fight that is needed in the Championship to succeed.
Great away win against a good side. Still need midfield players that can take a game by the scruff of the neck and move forward. The squad’s short of an aggressive ball winner or two. January should put that right. Bruce is the right man at this time.