The Aston Villa goalkeeper has not conceded a goal for three games.
During Aston Villa’s terrible run of form it was difficult to pick one player out for criticism when so many were underperforming, and yet goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (along with defender Alan Hutton) attracted more vitriol than most.
Johnstone signed for Villa on loan from Manchester United after previously impressing during temporary stints at Doncaster Rovers and Preston North End, but despite being highly rated at Old Trafford his early outings for the Villans did not go according to plan.
Chastised for not commanding his area and shipping goals at a worrying rate, the new Villa man suffered six defeats in his first seven outings for the club; with a solitary point picked up in a 2-2 draw against his former side Preston.
Those less than promising performances saw a number of Villa fans calling for another change in goal, yet Bruce persisted with Johnstone and he is beginning to prove his doubters wrong.
There is still work to be done, however Johnstone has kept three consecutive clean sheets in Villa’s victories against Derby County, Bristol City and Rotherham United, and while there are tougher tests to come, it is enough to get all but the harshest critics of his back…at least for now.
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