Steve Bruce virtually gave his players the hairdryer treatment against Blackburn, according to Aston Villa ace Mile Jedinak.
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has told The Mirror that ‘home truths’ were told at half time against Blackburn Rovers – and Mile Jedinak claimed that the players pretty much received the hairdryer treatment.
Villa had to come from behind to beat Blackburn on Saturday afternoon, as Southampton loanee Sam Gallagher struck struggling Rovers in front at Villa Park.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
However, Bruce did get the win he wanted as Jonathan Kodjia grabbed a brace, first scoring from the penalty spot before tucking home a smart finish to seal a 2-1 victory.
Villa now lie just five points off the play-off places in the Championship, and given that they have gone five games unbeaten under new manager Bruce, a feel-good factor is returning to Villa Park after a slow start under Roberto Di Matteo.
Aston Villa Manager Steve Bruce
That doesn’t mean Bruce is completely happy, though. Villa didn’t have much success in the first half against Blackburn, and the Villa boss has now revealed the details of his half-time team talk on Saturday.
Speaking to The Mirror, Bruce blasted his side’s first-half display, and admitted that ‘there were a few home truths’ at half time, and he used that to test whether his side would respond or crack under the pressure.
Aston Villa’s Mile Jedinak
Whilst it initially looked like Villa may crack when Gallagher opened the scoring they came back to win, with Bruce thankful that his players grabbed the win in the end – and midfielder Mile Jedinak added that the Villa players essentially received the hairdryer treatment, made famous by Bruce’s former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
“We were sh**e!” said Bruce. “At half-time there were a few home truths in the dressing room. It was one of those, ‘Are they going to respond or go under?’ Thankfully they responded,” he added.
“It was near enough the hairdryer treatment,” confirmed Jedinak.
What did you think of Villa’s first-half performance against Blackburn?
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