Bruce Gives Preston Thoughts

Manager Steve Bruce has mixed reactions following our two all draw with Preston North End last weekend.

Hosting former Villan Simon Grayson at Villa Park for the game – we also welcomed back Daniel ‘DJ’ Johnson and Callum Robinson – for the first time at Villa Park and with a very creditable first half performance we found ourselves two nil up.

With a then very usual second half performance we went into the final ten minutes of the game level as Albert Adomah’s brace was matched by Jordan Hugill.

As Bruce spoke to the Official Site in his post game press conference it was very much mixed emotions as he admitted first half it should’ve been three nil and it was ‘the best we’ve played’ under him, so he wanted to take those positives from the match rather than talk about the obvious second half meltdown.

‘It was the best we`ve played – and we had chances to make it 3-0. We didn`t and then that horrible achilles heel comes up and it`s cost us. We gave away two poor goals. It`s happened – but the light at the end of the tunnel is that it`s easily the best we have played. There was some continuity in our play, we passed it well, we looked a threat and created a few chances. It`s a shame we didn`t get the victory that we obviously all wanted.’

With midfielder Henri Lansbury being confirmed as our second signing of the January window ahead of the game and him debuting in the No 5 shirt, Bruce was obviously pleased with his contribution – but did point out that when Lansbury started tiring that’s where our problems began. But ultimately that should show already the kind of quality he brings.

‘When he tired, I think our problems started. He had a big influence. He obviously tired because he hasn`t played for several weeks. The kid had a wonderful debut and played ever so well. Andre Green did well too. That was his first start and I thought he was excellent. He could have capped it off with a goal. He`d have remembered that for the rest of his days. But he recovered from it and played very well.’

A post game press conference can’t go by without Gabby Agbonlahor being praised.

‘Gabby was more like Gabby again. He still has a way to go but he`s taken on the challenge we`ve given him. He has worked hard and put his head down. He`s got on with the job – it`s been good to see.’

Oh that’s nice, he’s taken on the challenge to try and earn his money big whoop.

Going back to the game Bruce admitted that after an hour we cost ourselves giving away a cheap goal again.

‘We gave a stupid goal away. We got caught on the break and missed a tackle and the boy has stuck it in the top bin. We need to eradicate that. We have to have a better mentality, especially towards defending. At the end of the day, we have only kept three clean sheets – and have only kept six all season. We have to improve in that area – it was frustrating.’

But again he was quick to go back to the positives.

‘Listen we played really well. It`s the best we have played – so in that respect, it was more like it. We got the ball down, we passed and we played with a bit of energy. I enjoyed watching us. We didn`t get the right result which was frustrating but that can happen in this league.’

With Mile Jedinak and Ross McCormack missing – he said.

‘Mile has been carrying a groin problem so he had injections on Friday. We will see if we can get him right rather than nursing him along. Ross, in my opinion, is not fit enough to play. He won`t play until his attitude towards training improves. If it improves, I will reconsider him again. If he continually keeps missing training – like he has done – then that will be the situation.’

More on McCormack shortly!

The January window obviously featured.

‘We have concentrated on the game for the last 24/48 hours. We`re looking for Henri Lansbury to be just the start of players of that little bit of quality, which we need to bring in. He showed it in abundance today. We have Henri Lansbury and Sam Johnstone, which I am delighted with. We believe we are close to two or three things and obviously it will heat up towards the end of the week. But we still have Jordan Ayew and Jonathan Kodjia to come back – and we don`t play now for several days. We play on transfer deadline day, which doesn`t happen very often. We expect to make a couple if we can. We will see what happens.’