Bruce: We can’t rely on goals of Kodjia

STEVE Bruce insists Aston Villa can not be over-reliant on Jonathan Kodjia to score goals again this season.

Kodjia netted 20 times last term during his first campaign at Villa but the Ivory Coast international is set to miss the opening weeks of this season after undergoing ankle surgery during the summer.

In his absence, Bruce saw his team squander a host of chances against his former club Hull at Villa Park as Villa had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their opening game.

He said: “We’ve created a lot of chances - and some really good opportunities too - and at this level you have to stick them away.

“It’s a problem that blighted us last season and it has raised its head again today. We relied too heavily on Kodj (Jonathan Kodjia) who we don’t have at the moment.”

With John Terry making his eagerly-awaited debut, Villa looked steady at the other end of the pitch.

“John will give us huge experience, he didn’t put a foot wrong. That kind of big experience is what’s needed at a big club like ours, with the expectation and anxiety around the place at times,” said Bruce.

Villa had already gone close through Gabriel Agbonlahor and Henri Lansbury before Agbonlahor put the hosts ahead after seven minutes.

Scott Hogan had a couple of chances to extend the lead before half-time but Hull deservedly equalised after 62 minutes through 20-year-old Jarrod Bowen’s first senior goal for the club.

Andre Green should have put Villa back in front with 10 minutes remaining but got his header all wrong from two yards out and directed the ball back across goal. Aston Villa’s Andre Green rues a missed chance