Bruce’s Villa sit four points behind fifth-placed Leeds in the Championship ahead of facing Monk’s men at Elland Road on Saturday evening.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce believes Leeds United boss Garry Monk was unfairly treated when he was given the sack by Swansea City last season.
Bruce was speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Monk’s Leeds side at Elland Road on Saturday evening, when he will be looking to extend his unbeaten start in charge of the claret and blues to eight games.
The Yorkshire outfit currently sit six places above Villa in fifth in the Championship table with 29 points from 18 games and, after recovering from a somewhat shaky start to the season following Monk’s appointment in the summer, have managed to record four victories in their last five league matches.
The 37-year-old former defender previously guided Swansea to their highest-ever Premier League finish of eighth in his only full season in charge before being relieved of his duties six months later in November 2015 after a run of one win in 11 games, and Bruce believes he is now showing why the Welsh club should have given him more time to try to turn things around.
“I was quietly impressed by what he did at Swansea and he was unfairly treated in my opinion,” Bruce told reporters at his press conference. “He had his first blimp and all of sudden he was out on his ear, which surprised a few of us.
“I’m not surprised at all he’s gone to Leeds. He needs to give them a bit of stability if that’s possible. He’s a very bright, articulate young manager and one to look to for the future, because he’s certainly got Leeds at it.
“I was really impressed by them against Liverpool the other night [a 2-0 EFL Cup quarter-final defeat]. It could’ve gone either way and it’ll be a tough challenge tomorrow. They’re in the top six, big full house and Garry’s done a wonderful job.”
Bruce’s men are set to be backed by 2,773 travelling supporters at Elland Road on Saturday after selling out their ticket allocation for the 11th straight away game this season, and the former Hull City boss believes the match is one of the biggest and most anticipated on the Championship fixture list.
“It’s set to be a full house, which is statement to both clubs,” he added at his press conference. “We’ve sold out our allocation again, which is no mean feat. I think that’s every game we’ve played away from home we’ve taken our full allocation, which tells you something about the size of the club.
“And then we look at Leeds with their history, tradition and the support they’ve got. They’ve got wonderful support. Leeds against Aston Villa should be in the big league for me. We’re not, but they’ll be no disputing that it should be a great game.
“Both teams are in form, both teams are bang at it, it should be a very, very good game of football.”
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