Bruce’s boys are on the up
SIX games unbeaten and slowly but surely climbing the Championship table – Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce believes the shoots of recovery are clear for all to see.
Heading to the Amex and claiming a point from a Brighton side now unbeaten in 11 league games is impressive enough, but the reality is it could have been more as Villa outplayed the high-flyers.
Nathan Baker nodded the visitors into an early lead before Glenn Murray’s 150th league goal on the stroke of half-time drew Albion level, but the Seagulls had David Stockdale to thank for two late saves, while Jonathan Kodjia also hit the bar.
“It’s the best we’ve played in the second half because to come here is never going to be easy,” explained Bruce. “Brighton are a very good side who have been playing very, very well.
“We’re a bit disappointed we didn’t see it out until half-time, but the way we responded in the second half, I congratulated them on a really good display. The players have been muchmaligned but they showed exactly what they’re capable of.
“They’ve had 18 months and 50-odd games where they won four times so of course confidence becomes an issue.
“They’ve had a kicking and a bashing and so has the club. Slowly but surely there’s shoots of recovery.”
The game had added spice after Colin Calderwood resigned as Brighton assistant manager ahead of the contest to become Villa No.2 under Bruce.
“My thoughts are I’m very disappointed, very surprised,” said Seagulls boss Chris Hughton. “A deal has been done and he is free to join Villa whenever he can.”
On the other hand, Bruce was understandably ecstatic to bring a man with 34 years of football experience into his regime.
“I’m delighted about that because it was never easy,” he said. “The lure of Villa and that he’s closer to home is important to him because he’s found the travelling difficult.
“We’ve got an experienced guy and a good football man. It was important to get someone of his nous.”
The visitors opened the scoring on 20 minutes through an unlikely source – central defender Baker nodding in a pinpoint free-kick from the excellent Albert Adomah for his first Villa goal.
Gabriel Agbonlahor saw his shot blocked by Shane Duffy before Murray plundered his tenth goal of the season with a low 20-yard drive after good link-up play with Sam Baldock. Murray headed over after the break but with Jack Grealish and Jordan Ayew giving them renewed vigour, Villa should have won it in the last 20 minutes.
However, Stockdale turned Adomah’s low effort round the post, produced a brilliant reflex save from Kodjia and the Ivory Coast international also nodded a corner against the top of the bar, leaving Hughton relieved.
“Possibly on another occasion this might have been a game we’d have lost, but we certainly didn’t deserve to lose,” he insisted.
“We were very unfortunate to go behind, but we got it back to 1-1 and I was reasonably happy with a point.
“I genuinely think a draw was a fair result.
“We were up against a very good Villa side that pressed well, but didn’t have much of a goal threat in the first period.”