Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa 0 Wigan 0: Bruce says Villa fans need to be realistic
Wigan[LNB]boss Steve Bruce has made a habit of upsetting Aston Villa's[LNB]supporters. During his five-year stint as Birmingham City's manager, he lost just once at Villa Park.[LNB]On the two occasions he has been back since, he is yet to finish on the losing side. [LNB]It befell the Geordie to put matters into perspective as Martin O'Neill's 100th Premier League outing as Villa's boss ended in frustration. Incredibly, the final whistle was greeted by booing from a section of the Trinity Road stand. [LNB] Latics chief Steve Bruce barks instructions as his side grind out a goalless draw at Villa Park[LNB]'Expectation has gone through the roof here,' said Bruce, 'they should remember where they were a few years ago. I recall Sunderland coming here and if Villa hadn't beaten them, they could well have gone down. Now they are pushing the big boys and I think they have a real chance.' [LNB]O'Neill tried to laugh it off. 'Some fella behind me shouted: "Do you really want this?'',' said the Irishman. 'This was during the game. Actually it was two-and-a-half minutes after we had 14 minutes of relentless pressure. What the back pages say: Keane to quit Liverpool for Spurs, Man City close to Rover Roque, Micah to Villa, Chelsea eye Robinho - and a Middle East Ryder Cup? [LNB]Wigan manager Bruce slams City for unsettling his star man Palacios [LNB]WIGAN NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]ASTON VILLA NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB]'I turned and said: "Can't you shut up, Robbo" And do you know what, John Robertson was quiet after that.' [LNB] Villa new boy Emile Heskey was kept quiet in front of the home fans[LNB]Shorn of Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey, Amr Zaki and Wilson Palacios from the team that only a few weeks ago was causing a stir, Bruce deserves a pat on the back for instilling a resilience in his side that withstood everything Villa could muster. [LNB]'We cleared six off the line and they hit the crossbar twice,' said Bruce.[LNB]As predicted by many, following O'Neill's one-man mission to sign up the best English talent, Fabio Capello was in the stand, although it is probable that a couple of Wigan players caught the eye, too. Lee Cattermole and Titus Bramble were the pick for the visitors while Gareth Barry was in sublime form again. [LNB] Paul Schamer clears the ball off the line from a Luke Young shot late in the second half[LNB]'Cattermole has done great,' added Bruce, who confirmed that the injured Valencia had turned down a loan move to Real Madrid, 'Stuart Pearce is coming to have a look at him on Monday.[LNB]'He's done terrifically. He's only 20. But he ran himself to a standstill last Wednesday against Liverpool. We had to ask the question whether he could go again, but he's really got a big big future. [LNB]'Titus has been terrific all season. Touch wood, I think he's grasped it. You can see he's determined. He was a big-money signing when he was young and centre halves get better when they get older. I think he was everybody's kicking block and he needed a little reassurance.'[LNB] Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland beats John Carew to the ball on a frustrating afternoon for the midlands club[LNB]But the final word has to go to O'Neill. 'I won't complain about the fans,' he said. 'There's a credit crunch and 40,000 were here. You will always get a few groaning.'[LNB]ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Friedel 7; Cuellar 5, Davies 6, Knight 6, Young 6; Gardner 5, (Carew 63min, 6) Petrov 5, Barry 8, Milner 7; Heskey 6, Agbonlahor 6. Booked: Davies.[LNB]WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-3-3): Kirkland 8; Melchiot 7, Boyce 7, Bramble 9, Figueroa 8; Scharner 7, (Watson 76) Brown 7, Cattermole 8; De Ridder 5, (Rodallega 46, 6) Mido 5, Koumas 6. Booked: Brown.[LNB]Man of the match: Titus Bramble. [LNB]Referee: Rob Styles. What the back pages say: Keane to quit Liverpool for Spurs, Man City close to Rover Roque, Micah to Villa, Chelsea eye Robinho - and a Middle East Ryder Cup? [LNB]Wigan manager Bruce slams City for unsettling his star man Palacios [LNB]WIGAN NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]ASTON VILLA NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
