Aston Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has been backed by manager Steve Bruce.
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has defended goalkeeper Sam Johnstone after his errors against Nottingham Forest, as quoted by the club’s official website.
Villa went into Saturday’s game with Nottingham Forest having failed to win in 2017, and were without a league victory in five games.
Jonathan Kodjia got Villa off to a great start with a fine curling finish, but that’s as good as it got for Villa as Britt Assombalonga equalised before half time.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
It seemed that the two sides were heading towards a 1-1 draw, but Jack Grealish’s red card set up a tense finale – and Villa succumbed late on as teenage striker Ben Brereton scored an injury-time winner for Forest.
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Any lingering hopes of a play-off place have all but been distinguished, and fans have been pointing the finger of blame at goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Aston Villa’s Sam Johnstone looks dejected as Nottingham Forest’s Britt Assombalonga celebrates
Signed on loan from Manchester United last month, Johnstone was signed to become Bruce’s first-choice goalkeeper having impressed during two spells with hometown club Preston North End.
However, Johnstone has so far struggled with Villa, and was culpable for both Forest goals; first fumbling Jamie Ward’s long-range strike to allow Assombalonga to score, before being beaten at his near post by Brereton’s winner.
After the final whistle at the City Ground, Villa boss Steve Bruce told the club’s official website that he thinks Johnstone will learn from his mistakes, and whilst the young goalkeeper is disappointed, he will bounce back.
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“He’s a young goalkeeper and he’s obviously disappointed – of course he will be,” said Bruce. “That’s the makings of a young goalkeeper. All of us have got to bounce back from it and see if we can turn things around,” he added.
What did you think of Johnstone’s display against Forest?
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