Steve Bruce fronts up as Aston Villa's form continues to nosedive after Barnsley defeat
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Aston Villa's defeat by Barnsley left Steve Bruce's club just seven points from the relegation zone following their seventh defeat in their last eight outings.
To use a popular phrase, the 'churn' at Villa Park during the January transfer window was considerable – with seven players arriving and six departing.
Bruce swapped his system following last weekend's defeat by Ipswich Town for the visit of the Tykes.
But Villa were still on the receiving end – a far cry from the seven wins in the Geordie's first dozen games that re-kindled hopes the club would mount a charge towards the play-offs.
Yet Bruce gave a robust and honest assessment at the final whistle...
(Photo: Neville Williams)
Reporter: Tough evening, Steve?
Steve Bruce: It's been a tough few weeks, no disputing that. The last two games in particular, it seems a carbon-copy.
We start brightly enough, create a few chances, make a mistake and the roof caves in.
In that respect, it makes it a tough evening.
It's one of those difficult periods. A hard six weeks. But we have to be determined enough to see it through.
Sometimes it's like that but that's what we have to aim to do.
(Photo: Neville Williams)
What did you make of their penalty?
If it is one, then it's very harsh. I've seen it four or five times again. I'm not going to make that an excuse. But it was harsh and one mistake has cost us.
But some of the defending – particularly for the third goal – was calamitous. Mistake after mistake...and that's crept into our game.
Every mistake we have made has been punished.
That was evident again tonight at 2-1. We thought: 'Right, let's kick on then,' but within seven minutes we're 3-1 down and it's very difficult from there.
(Photo: Neville Williams)
Is it a psychological issue?
One of the reasons why we have one of the biggest wage bills in the Championship is that we have to deal with that expectation.
That's why they get paid more than anyone else in this division. They are paid to handle the expectation.
I have to say the crowd have been nothing short of magnificent. It's difficult for them to handle it, to watch some of the stuff we're doing which is making mistake after mistake.
Is the team struggling to find an identity at the moment?
Yes, that's fair to say. We seem to have found it six weeks ago. We had impact and changed one or two things.
Maybe there has been too much change which I thought might be needed. Maybe at the wrong time.
It's my responsibility. But it's difficult because you used to be able to seep it in via the loan system. Now you have to make instant change.
(Photo: Neville Williams)
You need time to work with them. The lads who have come in...they've realised...it was easy to persuade them to come here. Very easy.
But they realise now how difficult it is. I'm convinced they are made of the right stuff. They will get better and it's up to me to make them better.
What's happened to Grealish, he has gone right off the boil?
I'm not going to criticise individuals, you know my stance. For me, it's the team and the team didn't function well enough.
So, it would be unfair of me to criticise an individual. But as a team – and the manager – haven't been good enough over the past five weeks.
That goes for all of us.
(Photo: Neville Williams)
Are you looking over your shoulder at the bottom of the table?
I've been accused of not caring and my body language is supposed to be crap and all this, that and the other.
It's the best and biggest club I've had in 20 years of management. Given time, I know for a fact I'll do it, but we're up against it at the moment. It's now you show your mettle. Roll your sleeves up, baton down the hatches and get ready to ride the storm. There will be one. Every man and his dog will have their say.
But I'm determined. I know what's required in this division – and we're short of it at the minute.
We're short of what we need in the Championship. It was evident. We've just seen it.
(Photo: Neville Williams)
It is difficult to change that mentality Steve. The football club has the name, but not the ingredients to take it forward.
It's Aston Villa. We've got the name, the big stadium and the big crowd and you're right where, for the best part of two months we were just short.
But for the sake of the club, I thought it was the right thing to do.
The way it happened, I know it will get better. We have two full-backs waiting in the wings who will provide competition for Alan Hutton and Jordan Amavi, for instance.
So, there's been big change over the club for far too long.
We have to ride the storm, stick your chest out and it's tough to come in here, do the television but it is what it is: Show your balls.
(Photo: Neville Williams)
Are the players letting you down?
That's for you to write. I feel for them at the minute because they are bright to start with but when you are up against it, you have to do the basics better than we are.
We have made too many mistakes, then we get caught up in it, then the mentality kicks in.
But I have to say again the crowd were terrific. Nothing but a help to them. There's a few disappointed people – and rightly so – but they were magnificent overall.
Is goal-scoring the real problem though?
There's a lack of goals. But we can't keep a clean sheet, either. That's why we are where we are.
We have to give ourselves a base. That's what the Championship is. You do the basics well.
They've had five attempts and scored three goals. We've had 30.
That's where we are.
(Photo: Neville Williams)
How big a shock has this come to you Steve, having started so well?
I was under no illusions as to how difficult it was. Even though we had a decent start, I knew. It still is.
Hopefully, we will be given time to turn it around. We've only been here four months.
We have to see it through.
Is there any thought you might get dragged into what's going on at the bottom?
I haven't seen the table tonight. I don't fear it. But you can't dismiss it, either.