I’M MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL
Bruce is going for a Burton to reach the top six
STEVE BRUCE has to beat the manager he rates the best in the country to lift Villa into the promotion places.
A win at Burton tomorrow and other results going for them will put Villa in the Championship’s top six and shut up fans calling for Bruce’s head.
But barring the way is Nigel Clough. The son of Old Big ’Ead kept little Burton in the Championship against all odds last season and Bruce reveals: “I voted for Nigel Clough to be manager of the year. He did an unbelievable job.”
Bruce knows this is Villa’s chance to establish themselves in the promotion race following a dodgy start.
After going for a Burton, Villa are at home to rock-bottom Bolton on Saturday and Bruce said: “I hope we can make a statement this week. But I’ve been here 10 months and it doesn’t always go like that. It’s something in the DNA here.
“It’s a great opportunity, grasp it. We’ve given ourselves a nice platform. Let’s put a marker down before the international break.”
Albert Adomah carved open Forest, got one goal and should have had another before Daryl Murphy equalised.
It took Conor Hourihane’s 20-yard free kick to win Villa their second game in a week and take the pressure off Bruce. “Some of the grumbling got through to the players,” admitted Hourihane. “The manager was hard done by.”
Bruce is not hiding, saying: “I understand that at Aston Villa, if you have a bad start you’re under pressure straight away, so you have to come out fighting, swing a few punches.
“But I’m under no illusions. If we lose the next two then it’ll start again.”
Forest improved after a poor first half but have lost five of their last six games and the pressure is switching to manager Mark Warburton.
He needs a win at home to Fulham while the Bruce v Clough battle goes on at Burton, but observed: “Burton relish the challenge. I’ve nothing but respect for the chairman (Ben Robinson) and Nigel for what they’ve done. It’s an unbelievable success story.” ASTON VILLA: Johnstone 6, Elmohamady 6, Chester 6, Terry 6, Taylor 6, Snodgrass 7 (Hutton 87), Whelan 6, Hourihane 7, Adomah 8, Davis 7 (Onomah 72, 5), Kodjia 7 (Hogan 79, 5) NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Smith 6, Darikwa 6, Mills 5, Worrall 7, Traore 6, Bridcutt 6, Brereton 6 (Clough 74, 5), Bouchalakis 6 (Osborn 66, 5), Dowell 6, McKay 5 (Carayol 61, 5), Murphy 6