Aston Villa ended their long wait for an away win at the Madejski Stadium.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce gestures to their fans
Steve Bruce has admitted that he used Aston Villa’s game against Reading to have a look at a couple of the club’s fringe players, and named the player who made the most of his opportunity, the Birmingham Mail reports.
The Villans went into the game at the Madejski Stadium looking to end a run for a win away from home that had stretched all the way back to the opening day of last season, as well as a run of 10 games without a win in all competitions.
Aston Villa’s Jordan Ayew scores their second goal with a penalty
But while it appeared that those runs would continue beyond the clash against the Royals – as they went into the dying minutes level at 1-1 – a Jordan Ayew penalty allowed Bruce to pick up his first win since his recent appointment.
It was also something of a landmark game for midfielder Gary Gardner. The 24-year-old had not played for the Championship side in over a month but was recalled in midweek.
Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia celebrates scoring their first goal with Gary Gardner
And while Bruce seemingly conceded that his selection had been based around something of a trial and error approach, he suggested that Gardner had definitely seized his chance.
“I wanted to have a look at a few people and Gary was one who hadn’t been involved much recently,” he said, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
“He put in a terrific performance. He was excellent.”
Gardner was ultimately involved in both of the goals on the night, and that will surely give his confidence a massive boost after a difficult spell.
He has plenty of experience in the second tier, so could prove to be an important player for the club as they try and get themselves into the promotion picture.
And based on Bruce’s assessment of his performance against Reading, it appears that he will have a greater role to play in the coming months.
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