Steve Bruce: Aston Villa showing made me feel 'physically sick'
A furious Steve Bruce claimed Villa's performance made him feel "physically sick" after they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup at Burton.
Liam Boyce's goal saw the League One Brewers through to the third round and a first ever competitive victory over Villa, for whom Albert Adomah missed a late penalty.
Bruce, visibly fuming, accused his much-changed team of treating the game "like a testimonial" and admitted several fringe players had blown their chance to impress.
"Sometimes you get a beat in a cup tie when it does not go your way," he said.
"But when you go about it like it is a testimonial or a friendly game then it upsets me to the hilt. Actually, it makes me feel physically sick.
"At this moment I have to take the rap, come and face the media. Ultimately it is my team.
"But it will be a shadow of the team which plays on Saturday (at Sheffield United). I would have thought the people who have been knocking down my door in recent weeks would have made a better fist of it than what I have just witnessed tonight."
Adomah saw an 89th minute penalty saved by Burton's debutant goalkeeper Harry Campbell, before hitting the rebound over the bar.
Villa's players were booed off by a large travelling support, who also directed their anger at Bruce.
He said: "The fans are entitled to criticise me. I have broad shoulders. I am the boss of that tonight.
"It is safe to say that was nowhere near good enough or acceptable. When you get knocked out of the cup, sometimes you can be unlucky.
"We didn't do anything at all. It has given me food for thought, for those people who keep knocking on my door, insisting they should be in the team.
"They have let me down, themselves and the supporters.
"We got what we deserved, which is absolutely nothing."
Winger Andre Green is, meanwhile, poised to join League One Portsmouth on loan until January.
