Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has been criticised by fans of late.
Steve Bruce and Alex Bruce celebrate with the trophy after winning promotion with Hull City
Wigan Athletic defender Alex Bruce has moved to defend his father and Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce after recent criticism.
Villa moved to appoint Bruce as their new manager back in October following Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking, and he made an immediate impact at Villa Park.
With just two defeats in his first 13 games in charge, Bruce had hauled Villa back into contention for a play-off place, but the start to 2017 has been absolutely disastrous.
Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Barnsley means that Villa have now lost six of their seven league games since the turn of the year, picking up just one point in that run – and even that game saw Villa throw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Preston North End.
Now 22 points adrift of the play-offs ahead of Monday’s trip to Newcastle United and just six points clear of the relegation zone, Villa fans are becoming increasingly frustrated.
Manager Bruce has been heavily criticised by fans in recent weeks, especially given that he was backed with eight new signings during the January transfer window – to no avail so far.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Ahead of the game with Newcastle, Bruce’s son and Wigan Athletic defender Alex Bruce has taken to Twitter to defend his father, suggesting that fans are being fickle by criticising him so heavily having praised him earlier this term.
Bruce added that whilst fans may not have expected such a poor run of form, they must stick together and back the manager in the long run.
Do you still think Bruce is the right man for Aston Villa?
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