Bruce sets sights on derby date to fire fans
STEVE BRUCE accepts he needs to win back a bit of trust from Aston Villa fans – starting with victory over bitter rivals Birmingham at St Andrew’s this lunchtime.
Bruce spent six years as Blues boss and twice guided them to the Premier League.
But his mission now is to return relegated Villa straight back to the top flight, after taking charge earlier this month following Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking.
Bruce, 55, has made an unbeaten start at Villa Park, winning the last two games to haul his new side up the Championship table.
But he knows it will take a lot more than that to win over some of the Villa fans.
Bruce said: “I know one game doesn’t repair all of the damage but it certainly helps.
“This is what happens when you get relegated – especially a big club like this that’s not used to it.
“Some clubs are used to going up and down and the fans accept it.
“The supporters of this club won’t, so you have to win back a bit of trust.”
Villa’s relegation last season ended a 28-year stay in the top flight and was followed by an inconsistent start in the Championship under Di Matteo.
Bruce ended a 14-month wait for an away win with victory at Reading on October 18 and looks to build on that at St Andrew’s today.
The former Manchester United defender added: “They have to show a bit of pride in what they do.
“Hopefully we can repair the club’s downward slide. We have to bring it back to where it needs to be.”
Injured duo Tommy Elphick and Micah Richards will sit out the match for Villa but winger Albert Adomah is pushing for a place and playmaker Jack Grealish completes a three-match ban.
Birmingham will be without suspended left-back Jonathan Grounds as well as injured duo Paul Caddis and Robert Tesche.
The clash will be the first derby between the sides outside the top flight since December 1987 and Blues boss Gary Rowett can’t wait.
“It’s a massive game for everyone,” he said.
“I will never play this type of game down because that’s what football is about, local derbies and extra enthusiasm from the fans.”
Play-off chasing Blues lost against Burton last Friday and Rowett is keen to get back to winning ways.
He added: “This is another big game at home and we have to go out and perform.” The Uruguay playmaker, a flop with Bournemouth’s south coast rivals Southampton, scored his first goal since joining Boro permanently this summer on a free after last season’s loan spell. And while the 38th-minute solo effort – which Ramirez launched with a break from inside his own half – had the Riverside in raptures, boss Aitor Karanka was not surprised. He said: “It is our first home win – and a massive one. But what Gaston did wasn’t a surprise for me. “I knew what he could do when I wanted him back here after last season. I’ve always said just how important he is for the team . When he is confident, he is an amazing player.
“But he has five bookings now and will miss a game and it’s good for him to learn you can’t keep taking yellows.”
Ten minutes after the break Stewart Downing doubled Boro’s lead as they headed for only their second win this season – and first in nine games in both league and cup.
Karanka added: “I was really pleased for Stewy because the work he did for the team was amazing.”
England and former Boro boss Gareth Southgate was on Teesside to check on the form of Bournemouth’s on-loan Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and home centre-back Ben Gibson, among others.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said: “Jack did well and it was the only positive to come out of the game.
“He was the creative spark for us in the first half. He lasted the game well and was still an influence towards the end. That was the real boost.”
But Andrew Surman suffered a hamstring injury and Howe added: “It looks like a big one.”
Winger Adama Traore, who joined Boro from Aston Villa in August, kept his place after an impressive showing in the 0-0 draw at Arsenal.
And he was at the centre of a penalty claim after 23 minutes when he went down after Charlie Daniels’ challenge.
Traore was late going to ground, though, and the incident sparked a row between the benches, with the visitors suggesting he dived.
Victor Valdes’ fingertips came to Boro’s rescue in the 27th minute. Wilshere played a wonderful ball to Josh King, who took it on his chest and cracked a shot that Valdes appeared to touch on to the bar.
Then came the rampaging Ramirez’s solo. He crossed the half-way line on the left before cutting into the penalty area to steer the ball past Artur Boruc. It was two when Traore’s clever delivery with the outside of his foot set up Alvaro Negredo to knock the ball down for Downing, who was left with a simple finish inside the six-yard box. Cherries substitute Benik Afobe almost made an immediate impact when he raced in on goal moments after his introduction on the hour but Valdes blocked to preserve his clean sheet. MIDDLESBROUGH: BOURNEMOUTH: