Peter Beagrie has hailed Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Pundit Peter Beagrie has told Sky Sports that he thinks Aston Villa were ‘absolutely outstanding’ against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend – and hailed the impact of new boss Steve Bruce.
Villa chose to land Bruce as their new manager in October having sacked Roberto Di Matteo following one win in the first 11 games of the season.
However, Villa are now showing great form under Bruce, as they’ve won three and drawn three of Bruce’s six games in charge, meaning the new Villa boss remains unbeaten so far.
Today, Bruce leads his side out against Cardiff City at Villa Park, and will be searching for another positive result to keep that unbeaten run going.
Villa sit just five points off the play-off places, and with momentum building under Bruce, Villa are in contention for a top six finish – and Bruce has now been hailed by pundit Peter Beagrie ahead of today’s game.
Aston Villa Manager Steve Bruce
Beagrie told Sky Sports that he loves how Bruce has worked on the fundamentals at Villa Park; building a solid base, a strong back four, and going with Pierluigi Gollini as his first-choice goalkeeper after Mark Bunn had started Di Matteo’s final game in charge.
Beagrie thinks that Bruce’s no-nonsense approach has brought ‘a hunger and desire’ to the squad, suggesting that he will have told his players to change the mentality at Villa Park after such a poor start to the campaign.
The former Everton and Bradford City ace added that Bruce has shown that he will bring anybody into the side if they apply themselves given Gabriel Agbonlahor’s return to the side, and felt that the performance in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Brighton was ‘absolutely outstanding’.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
“Bruce has done the fundamentals,” said Beagrie. “He’s got a solid base, he’s changed the goalkeeper, and got a solid back four now. He’s brought a hunger and a desire, which comes from a manager who takes no rubbish. He’ll have told his players that they’re playing for a brilliant football club, going out in front of all these people, let’s change the mentality.”
“An olive branch to Gabby Agbonlahor as well shows that he won’t close the door on anybody if they show the right attitude and application. He has a plethora of talent at his disposal, and that performance against Brighton – even though it was only a draw – was absolutely outstanding in all aspects of the game,” he added.
Do you think Bruce can take Villa to the play-offs this season?
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