Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce ready for Championship promotion race to heat up

With 12 games remaining, Villa sit third, four points behind Cardiff, who currently hold the second and final automatic promotion spot.

But while aware of Villa’s position, Bruce is yet to study all the possible permutations and instead remains focused on ensuring his team remain in contention for the final run-in.

“I still haven’t really studied it (the table) if I am being honest,” he said. “I only really study it with eight or nine games to go. I have a glimpse.

“I know Cardiff are four points ahead of us. I know who is behind us and who is at the top.”

Villa continue their promotion push when they host QPR this Saturday, kicking off another busy week in which they also face bottom club Sunderland and leaders Wolves.

Both Cardiff and fourth-placed Derby still have to visit Villa Park next month and Bruce said: “The pressure will only intensify. There is still a lot to play for.

“Once it gets down to six or eight games to go, then you realise the importance because you can’t close gaps.

“You have to produce and get the results at the right time. Can you be the ones who go on a run at the end? That is always the most important thing.”

Rivals Cardiff visit Brentford this Saturday aiming to extend a run of four straight wins without conceding a goal.

Bruce reckons the success of Neil Warnock’s team is further proof of the Championship’s competitive and unpredictable nature.

“Neil has done a wonderful job,” he said. “Did we expect them to be second? I don’t think so. What were their odds at the start of the season?

“I think that is the beauty of it. You can predict the Premier League. You know who the big clubs are. You can’t with the Championship.”