Aston Villa are without a win in five matches.
Lee Hendrie has told TalkSport that Steve Bruce deserves to remain in the Aston Vila hotseat for the time being but urged the Villa boss to play more attacking, expansive football – though some fans disagree with the former midfielder.
Villa have gone five matches without a win after Saturday’s appalling 4-1 defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, with only Anwar El Ghazi scoring for Bruce’s side.
After an excellent start to the season that saw Villa beat Hull City, Wigan Athletic and Yeovil Town, Bruce’s men have failed to win a match including three league draws and losses to Burton in the Cup and now the Blades in the league.
Hendrie was asked whether Bruce’s time is coming to an end after the club slipped into 12th place in the league, but he backed the promotion expert to remain in the Midlands – at least for the time being.
“I think he’s done a fantastic job, I really do,” Hendrie said. “He’s got that experience of taking teams back into the Premier League, so I wouldn’t push any alarm bells just yet.
“As fans and ex-players, what we want to see is a bit more excitement. I’ve watched Villa a lot this season and it’s the same old, pushed back. What we’ve got going forward, especially after Bolasie, El Ghazi and Abraham, we have a fantastic attack.
“I’d like to see us be a bit more expansive going forward, like Sheffield United or Brentford, but unfortunately Steve does have that defensive mindset in his locker.”
Bruce has been in the role at Villa for almost two years, after first taking over from Roberto Di Matteo in October 2016, and is now looking to push the Midlands side back into the Premier League at the third attempt.
But some Villa fans are desperate for a change in manager as their poor form continues, and reacted to Hendrie’s comments on TalkSport with exactly that view. One fan Tweeted Bruce should “absolutely go”.
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