John Hartson has told unhappy Aston Villa fans they probably don’t know the whole picture at the club as pressure mounts on Steve Bruce.
Aston Villa boss Bruce has come under fire after his side endured a 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last time out.
Villa have only won three of their nine games so far in the Championship this season despite Bruce assembling a strong squad for another push to get back in the Premier League.
Supporters flooded social media and football phone-ins following the defeat to the Owls.
Many have been calling for him to be sacked.
But that did not go down well with former football star turned pundit John Hartson.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport, Hartson leapt to the defence of Bruce following some irate calls from fed-up Villa fans.
The ex Arsenal and West Ham star told fans they ‘don’t know what goes on in the boardroom’.
“The same man (being) criticised here was within one game of taking you up, let’s not forget that,” Hartson said on BBC 5 Live Sport.
“I think Steve will admit he’s spent an awful lot of money, he’s got decent players there on big, big wages.
“You look at what he’s brought in, he’s brought in (Yannick) Bolasie, Tammy Abraham on loan from Chelsea, you’ve signed McGinn from Hibs who has been a very good player for you so far so I don’t think you can be over critical (of Bruce).
“You’ve got to balance things up, the owners are saying to him ‘Yes you can sign Bolasie, yes you can sign McGinn but you know what we have to maybe let one or two go Steve.
“Yes he might rue the fact that he’s left (Tommy) Elphick go, experienced and everything else at Bournemouth but we’re not party to what happens in the board meetings and all that.
“If Villa are going to back him financially and keep hold of (Jack) Grealish and these types of players, they’ve got to balance things up around the back by letting one or two players go, this is how a club is run.”
Hartson makes some salient points and Bruce will be hoping he can turn things around like he did last season.
But things don’t get any easier with a tricky run of fixtures on the horizon for the Midland club.
It is Bristol City away up next for Villa before facing Preston North End, Milwall, Swansea, Norwich and QPR.
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