Fletcher’s got Brucie in a ton of trouble
STEVE BRUCE came out fighting after Aston Villa’s biggest crowd of the season booed him off.
It’s now one win in eight for Bruce’s side and in his
100th game in charge the honest Villa boss admitted: “We were poor.
“We were lifted by a wonderful John McGinn goal – but how long did that last? Fifteen minutes?
“That’s not good enough. We didn’t play well enough, it’s a huge disappointment.
“We had five, six, seven players below par.”
Boos echoed around the ground from Villa fans in the 35,572 crowd – while those in the away end danced with delight.
Bruce has been taking stick on social media but is asking for more time.
He said: “That was my sixth home defeat, two of them against Wednesday.
“There are some fans I will never win over, I know that.
“But I thought today the crowd were fine.
“I still believe the team we have got together will be a threat in this division.
“You need time, that is the magic word, because no matter how you dress it up this is a new team.”
But Villa don’t look at all convincing and were generally second best.
McGinn’s superb equaliser after 53 minutes looked as if it would inspire his side back into the game.
It certainly deserved too. The impressive Scot banged in a brilliant left-foot shot, hit on the volley from 25 yards, which crashed in after hitting the underside of the bar.
But it was as good as it got for Villa.
Marco Matias had put Wednesday ahead four minutes into the second half after Adam Reach’s shot had been blocked.
McGinn’s wonder goal saw Wednesday and, in particular, Steven Fletcher take over.
The former Burnley man missed chances but then took one with a powerful
67th-minute header, leaving boss Jos Luhukay elated.
He said: “That was our best away performance.
“It was very good from my team to come to Aston Villa against a good side and win.”
HARRY KANE ended his goal drought and Tottenham swerved a fourth defeat in a row with a gritty victory that just about answered the critics.
The England ace hadn’t scored in any competition – and Spurs hadn’t won – since a 3-0 romp at Manchester United back in August.
But just as the knives were out and manager Mauricio Pochettino seemed to be losing his rag, Spurs found a way to eke out a victory on the south coast.
It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t convincing and it looked unlikely until a stupid handball from Brighton’s Glenn Murray gifted Kane a 42nd-minute chance to score from the spot.
But Spurs ground it out and – after Erik Lamela made it 2-0 – they are now up to fifth in the table, only six points behind leaders Liverpool.
Even if Brighton, who grabbed an injury-time consolation through Anthony Knockaeart, didn’t deserve to lose.
Boss Chris Hughton said: “There’s no doubt the ball hit Glenn’s hand but we see that an awful lot and on a lot of occasions they’re not given as penalties.
“I don’t think anyone can doubt our willingness to get back in it. They’re a very expansive team and on a good, wet surface like this they can move the ball quickly.
“What you need to do is stay in the game as long as possible and look for your opportunities.”
Counterpart Pochettino was delighted. He said: