Aston Villa staff support grieving Steve Bruce

Bruce was back in the dugout as Villa lost 1-0 at Millwall yesterday, having taken time away from the club following the passing of his mother, Sheenagh, last Friday morning.

The boss, who also lost his father Joe back in February, is preparing to take a more hands-on role again as Villa look towards the play-offs and semi-final first-leg at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Assistant boss Calderwood once again took press duties on the manager’s behalf after yesterday’s defeat at The Den.

He said: “He’s fine. I think he would rather I did these occasions but he will be under the spotlight next week.

“He has had a real tough time from January onwards. We have given him the help we can.

“Everyone knows he is the leader. We will get through these few days and help him as best we can. Sometimes, coming to work brings a moment of relief.”

Bruce has also been hit by the illness suffered by his former manager at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson remains in intensive care after having emergency surgery on Saturday for a brain haemorrhage.

A United statement said the procedure ‘had gone very well’ but there is no update on the 76-year-old’s condition.

Calderwood added: “It seems a lot of people he knows have been in difficult situations. That just adds to the stress of it.”

Shaun Williams’s first-half penalty saw a much-changed Villa team fall to defeat at Millwall, though Calderwood expects them to be far better against Boro.

“I don’t think we played as well as we wanted to,” he said.

“Certainly once the penalty was awarded and we went behind. We need to play at a different level next game.

“You are only in the play-offs for the reason you progressed the right way during the season. We will certainly have to be more towards our A game than we were here. And we will be.

“It’s back to work on Tuesday and look forward to what could be a tremendous 10 days.”