BRUCE PANIC

Villa boss on brink after last-gasp penalty hell

GLENN WHELAN missed a penalty with the last kick of the game – leaving manager Steve Bruce to sweat on his future at a breathless Villa Park.

The midfielder stepped up in stoppage time to take a spot-kick that capped a barely believable second 45 minutes.

North End keeper Chris Maxwell guessed correctly, saving to his left after Daniel Johnson was adjudged to have pushed over Birkir Bjarnason.

Bruce’s personal fortune swung one way and then the other after what appeared to be a routine evening turned into a nightmare.

He appeared to have relieved the growing pressure as Villa were two goals to the good before the break courtesy of Jonathan Kodjia’s header and a clever finish from Tammy Abraham.

But then James Chester’s 53rdminute sending-off sparked a second-half meltdown as Alex Neil’s men sensed a comeback was on the cards.

Preston profited from the penalty that saw Wales international Chester dismissed.

And then sub Paul Gallagher fired them on level terms, squeezing a freekick inside Mark Bunn’s near post.

North End staged a remarkable rally that ended with substitute Louis Moult nodding home an 87thminute goal to go 3-2 ahead.

With defeat looming now, that sparked chants of “We want Brucie out” from the Holte End as

Villa’s fans dem- onstrated their anger. Bruce was on a knife-edge anyway as – remarkably – a cabbage was thrown towards the home dugout before kick-off.

There were other sporadic chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” but those songs were cut short when sub Yannick Bolasie fired home from close range.

That appeared to be that as the clock was ticking down towards the final whistle.

But then the referee pointed to the spot again. Whelan stepped forward but Maxwell’s gamble paid off in what was the final act of an incredible second half.