Steve Bruce: Aston Villa need to cut out costly mistakes
Steve Bruce has called on Villa to cut out the costly mistakes as they hunt a crucial victory against Preston tonight.
The Lilywhites, bottom of the Championship, visit Villa Park with Bruce desperately needing a result to ease the mounting pressure on his shoulders following a run of just one win from eight matches.
Chief among the manager’s concerns is a defence which has conceded 15 goals in just 10 games, a number of which have been down to individual error.
Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland was at fault when Josh Brownhill opened the scoring for Bristol City in last Friday’s 1-1 draw.
Bruce said: “I have never known so many mistakes. We must have conceded six or seven times out of mistakes which is practically unheard of. We probably made six mistakes all last year.
“We could quite easily be higher up, without the mistakes we have made.
“We could have quite easily won at Ipswich. We could have quite easily won at Bristol. We didn’t and it means the pressure comes on you.”
Villa remain hopeful over the availability of Tammy Abraham after the striker was forced off late on at Ashton Gate with a calf problem.
Mile Jedinak has announced his retirement from international football, in order to concentrate on his club career.
The 34-year-old, who has played predominantly as a centre-back for Villa this season, was capped 79 times for Australia and scored 20 goals. He also captained the Socceroos at two World Cups including Russia 2018.
