Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Sheffield Wednesday 2.
22 Sep 2018
'I'm never going to walk away' - Bruce defiant after Villa lose to Sheff Wed
Steve Bruce says he is "never going to walk away" as Aston Villa manager despite seeing his side booed off the pitch after losing at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls consigned Villa to their first home defeat of the season in Bruce's 100th game in charge of the club.
Wednesday took the lead just after the break when the ball broke to Marco Matias on the edge of the area and he fired a crisp shot into the bottom corner.
John McGinn levelled with a stunning volley that went in off the underside of the bar but Steven Fletcher scored Wednesday's winner with a header from a Joel Pelupessy cross.
- Relive Saturday's EFL action
Villa dropped to 12th in the Championship table and Bruce acknowledged the supporters' discontent at the final whistle.
Bruce told BSports WM 95.6: "I can understand people's frustrations and disappointments but I think that's only the fifth time in my two years that we've been beaten here [at Villa Park].
"It's difficult at the moment. No matter what I do, in some people's eyes I'm not going to be the right fit.
"There's nothing I can do about that. I will stay on the ropes and stay with it. That will never change with me. I'm never going to walk away from a challenge - and it's certainly been a challenge.
"In some people's eyes, I will never be the answer, that's obvious but the one thing that changes it is results so we need a few results. I do believe we've got the nucleus of a very decent team again, given time."
Villa, who have now won just three of their opening nine Championship games, slipped into mid-table, while Wednesday - who won 2-1 at Villa Park for the second season in succession - moved above them to 10th.
After a slow start to the season, Wednesday, who host league leaders Leeds on Friday, have taken 13 points from their past six games.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Aston Villa
- 1Nyland
- 27El Mohamady
- 5ChesterBooked at 8mins
- 15Jedinak
- 21Hutton
- 37AdomahSubstituted forBolasieat 68'minutes
- 14Hourihane
- 7McGinnBooked at 55mins
- 10Grealish
- 26KodjiaSubstituted forEl Ghaziat 78'minutes
- 18Abraham
Substitutes
- 4Tuanzebe
- 6Whelan
- 11Bolasie
- 16Bree
- 20Bjarnason
- 22El Ghazi
- 31Bunn
Sheff Wed
- 25Dawson
- 15Lees
- 34Hector
- 36Pudil
- 24BakerBooked at 36mins
- 8Pelupessy
- 10Bannan
- 42Penney
- 20Reach
- 9FletcherSubstituted forNuhiuat 78'minutes
- 19MatiasSubstituted forLucas Joãoat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Fox
- 7Onomah
- 17Nuhiu
- 18Lucas João
- 28Wildsmith
- 31Kirby
- 37Preston
- Referee:
- David Webb
- Attendance:
- 35,572
Match Stats
Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamSheff Wed
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Sheffield Wednesday 2.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Daniel Pudil (Sheffield Wednesday) because of an injury.
Foul by Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa).
Daniel Pudil (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Aston Villa. John McGinn tries a through ball, but Yannick Bolasie is caught offside.
John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Michael Hector (Sheffield Wednesday).
Attempt blocked. Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Reach.
Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ahmed El Mohamady with a cross.
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday).
Ørjan Nyland (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Lucas João replaces Marco Matias.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by James Chester.
Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Yannick Bolasie.
Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Michael Hector (Sheffield Wednesday).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Atdhe Nuhiu replaces Steven Fletcher.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Anwar El Ghazi replaces Jonathan Kodjia.
Offside, Aston Villa. Yannick Bolasie tries a through ball, but Tammy Abraham is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Yannick Bolasie (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Kodjia.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Yannick Bolasie replaces Albert Adomah.
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Sheffield Wednesday 2. Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joey Pelupessy with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Alan Hutton.
Attempt blocked. Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Daniel Pudil.
Attempt blocked. Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Reach with a cross.
Attempt saved. Marco Matias (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Reach.
Attempt saved. Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adam Reach.
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday).
Attempt saved. Albert Adomah (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Conor Hourihane with a headed pass.
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