Bruce vows to tough it out as fans call for his head
STEVE BRuCE responded in the best way he knew after Conor Hourihane silenced the Aston Villa fans who had turned on his manager with a stoppage-time equaliser.
The Villa boss has had it tough this year, on and off the pitch.
Both his parents died within months, Villa narrowly lost the play-off final, key players left and Villa just avoided administration thanks to new owners.
Now Bruce’s future has come into question after one victory in seven matches.
‘I’m trying, determined to see it through,’ said Bruce when asked if he was coping with it all. ‘I’m a resilient old t**t. In these particular moments, it’s what you need to be.’
A section of the 4,000 travelling fans chanted ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ as Villa trailed 1-0 to promoted Blackburn with two minutes to go.
Bradley Dack’s instinctive third goal in four games in his debut Championship season left Villa staring at a third straight league defeat until substitute Hourihane levelled with a stunning free kick, curled around the wall and inside the near post deep into added time.
It earned Villa a point and bought Bruce time, which is what he feels he needs after having to rebuild his squad.
‘Last year we brought in £25million and spent £2m to try to balance the books and we nearly got promoted,’ said Bruce.
‘We got to the play-off final, then we lost six of the team. Thankfully the new owners have come in and breathed life into the club again because, make no mistake, we were in a desperate, dark place. We will be there or thereabouts given time.
‘If you are the manager of Aston Villa, you come under the pump and the disappointing thing for me is I’m always a week away from a crisis.’
Tammy Abraham missed chances on his Villa debut, before Hourihane rescued a point. ‘Hopefully that can turn a corner for us,’ said the Ireland international.