Steve Bruce returns to Birmingham City as Aston Villa manager on Sunday.
Steve Bruce has told his Aston Villa side via the club’s official website to be ready for the “tough, uncompromising and resillient” nature of Birmingham City on Sunday.
Steve Bruce returns to St Andrews as an opposition manager this weekend as the 55-year-old gears up for a frosty reception after taking the Aston Villa job earlier this month.
He previously spent six years in charge of the Blues until 2007, and Birmingham fans are likely to his resent his decision for taking charge of their bitter Second City rivals.
On the whole, Gary Rowett’s side, who sit nine places and six points above their West Midlands neighbours, have had a much better season than Villa.
And the former Hull City boss has given credit where it’s due to Rowett for the work that he has done.
“They are tough, uncompromising and resilient,” he told Aston Villa’s website. “Gary Rowett has done a smashing job over the past few years under difficult circumstances.
“They are everything I would expect them to be. But we will be ready for that challenge, I am sure of that.”
Bruce himself has done a cracking job so far as Villa boss. He has won two of his three games since replacing the axed Roberto Di Matteo – the other being a 1-1 draw with Wolves.
Victory this weekend could potentially see Bruce’s side move to within three points of the playoff places, which seemed unthinkable just a few weeks ago when the Italian was still in charge, but that is the beauty of the Championship.
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