Pundit explains why Steve Bruce has been proven right at Aston Villa this season

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Aston Villa sit fifth in the Championship after 20 games.

Pundit and former manager Chris Powell has told the Daily Star that he thinks Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has been proven right this season.

Villa came into the Championship season with huge expectations, given that they brought in proven players such as Ahmed Elmohamady, Glenn Whelan and John Terry over the summer, before also adding Robert Snodgrass.

With one of the top squads in the Championship, Villa were immediately made favourites for the title and promotion back to the Premier League, but their start to the season was inauspicious at best.

Villa won just once in their first seven games, which brought early pressure for manager Steve Bruce having been backed with those new signings – and he has managed to turn things around.

In the last 13 Championship games, Villa have lost just twice, winning eight times to now sit fifth in the table, occupying a play-off spot whilst sitting seven points adrift of an automatic promotion spot.

Villa fans are now hoping that Bruce can win promotion to the Premier League, just as he did with Birmingham City and Hull City, and he has been hailed by one former manager.

Ex-Charlton boss Chris Powell has told the Daily Star that he thinks Bruce is the ideal man to deal with the pressure and expectation levels at Villa Park, having managed many other huge clubs over the course of his career.

Powell added that he feels Bruce kept calm amid the early-season panic, and feels he has been proven right with his faith in his squad as they challenge for the title.

“There’s big expectations with regards their support and infrastructure but they’ve got a manager who can handle that,” said Powell. “He’s managed many other clubs and that’s the reason they brought him in.”

“He knows the deal with Villa. He realises they expect to be in the Premier League and wants to be the man to deliver that. Bruce kept calm when they had their early season struggles and he’s been proven right so far,” he added.