Ice man keeps cool but fans turn on Bruce

BRISTOL CITY 1 ASTON VILLA 1

THE pressure on Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce’s shoulders intensified at Ashton Gate as the visiting supporters vented their spleen in his direction. His team had earned a decent point thanks to Birkir Bjarnason’s equaliser but Villa fans still sent chants of ‘You Don’t Know What You’re Doing’ and ‘We Want Brucie Out’ towards their side’s manager. Villa sit a couple of points outside the play off places and one behind their hosts, but they have won just once in seven league outings. They fell behind here to Josh Brownhill’s brilliant 16th minute goal. The former Manchester United academy player drove a low 20-yard shot past Orjan Nyland after Andreas Weimann’s skilful run left the Villa defence at sixes and sevens. Villa hung in as the Robins dominated proceedings and their resilience was rewarded two minutes into first-half stoppage time. Conor Hourihane swung in an inviting cross and Bjarnason (above) sent a bullet header past goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa. Villa looked invigorated after the break and only a fine save from Maenpaa denied John McGinn a stunning winner before Jack Grealish saw an angled effort saved. In the end it was a solid point against another side aiming for promotion, but that did not stop the boos that rang out from the away end.