Car crash for Bruce

BOSS ‘EMBARRASSED’ BY VILLA

CARDIFF: Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett (Richards 63rd); Gunnarsson, Damour, Ralls; Mendez-Laing (Ward 86th), Zohore (Kennedy 90th), Hoilett

ASTON VILLA boss Steve Bruce labelled his side

after they were thrashed by Cardiff and a rampant Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

EMBARRASSING

The winger, a Birmingham fan, scored in either half and Junior Hoilett also netted for Neil Warnock’s side as they fully deserved their victory.

Villa were limited in attack and, after being held at home by Hull on the opening weekend, they now know they will not have it all A VILLA: Johnstone; Hutton, Chester, Terry, Taylor; Elmohamady (Adomah 31st), Lansbury (O’Hare 58th), Whelan, Onomah (Hourihane 77th); Agbonlahor; Hogan their own way this season. And Bruce insisted the 3-0 defeat had been a “rude awakening” for some of his stars.

He said: “Everything went wrong apart from the first 20 minutes.

“We made a bad mistake for the first goal and after that it was on the verge of embarrassing at times. It was a rude awakening for us.

“We didn’t do the basics well and we looked fragile. Overall, it was a difficult afternoon.

“We have to do more. We are Aston Villa and we come with a big reputation, but away from home we have to be aware of what’s coming.”

Mendez-Laing and Kenneth Zohore played starring roles for the Bluebirds, who have two wins from two to sit top of the table.

But it was Villa who made the better start, Scott Hogan firing over and having an effort saved by Neil Etheridge in the Cardiff goal.

At the other end, Hoilett’s shot was spilled but then recovered by Villa keeper Sam Johnstone.

The Manchester United loanee also saved well from the very dangerous Zohore before Cardiff took the lead.

It was a simple goal, Hoilett’s cross finding Mendez-Laing at the back post who rose above Neil Taylor to head home in the 21st minute.

Johnstone came to Villa’s rescue again at the start of the second half when he saved well from both Mendez-Laing and Zohore.

Villa’s best chance came when James Chester’s header deflected past Etheridge but hit the bar and bounced away.

Zohore made them pay when he danced down the touchline before crossing for Hoilett to tap home.

The striker, who scored against Burton last weekend, gave Villa’s experienced centre-halves Chester and John Terry a torrid day and when Mendez-Laing slotted home a third, the game was well and truly over.

Watching Cardiff owner Vincent Tan confirmed he has no plans to sell the club to complete a dream day for Warnock.

The Cardiff boss said: “It’s more or less the perfect result and Vincent couldn’t have wished for a better game to come to.

“I wouldn’t want to play against the likes of Zohore and I thought we saw vintage Hoilett today but we’ve not done anything yet.”