Bruce slams Villa performance after defeat at Norwich

Posted Saturday, April 07, 2018 by PA

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce admitted his side got exactly what they deserved as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Norwich which severely dented their hopes of automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Villa had been given a chance to cut the gap on second-placed Cardiff to just four points following the Bluebirds’ home defeat against leaders Wolves on Friday night, but failed to take it as the mid-table Canaries took all three points.

Norwich were the better side throughout and deservedly took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Josh Murphy rifled home an angled shot from just outside the box that dipped at the last minute.

Striker Dennis Srbeny bundled home his first goal for the club to make it 2-0 just after the interval and although Jack Grealish pulled one back for Villa midway through the second period, it took Norwich just five minutes to restore their two-goal advantage when James Maddison guided home his 15th goal of the season after more good work from Murphy.

Bruce said: “We were poor, really poor, and we didn’t do nearly enough to get anything from the game. There was no zip to our play, the defending for the second two Norwich goals was unbelievably poor and we absolutely got what we deserved, which was nothing.

“The players have let the supporters down – and they have also let themselves and the team down.

“It’s really disappointing the way we have fallen away over the past four games, taking just four points. That’s not promotion form, or even play-off form. We have failed to perform when we really needed to and handed the momentum to others, which is really disappointing.”

Villa are at home to Cardiff on Tuesday and Bruce didn’t need reminding that a win at Carrow Road would have made that one really interesting.

He added: “We had a great chance to set that one up nicely but we didn’t take it. If we play like we did today on Tuesday night we will get turned over by Cardiff, that’s for sure.

“We have to be better and I am sure we will be. We have then got Leeds on Friday so we have got two home games coming up to put some pressure back on, but this was obviously a missed opportunity.”

Norwich manager Daniel Farke was full of praise for Murphy, City’s man of the match, afterwards.

He said: “We all know what Josh is capable of. He has excellent technique and it was an excellent goal. He also played a part in our other two goals and it was a really good all-round performance from him.

“Now he needs to do that on a consistent basis, that is his challenge. He has had games this season when he has struggled a bit, hasn’t made the right decisions. He isn’t the strongest or toughest guy but he always goes out there and gives his best.

“As a coach you always have to support your young players and Josh was outstanding. He has shown everyone what he can do.”

Farke was also delighted with his side’s reaction to a disappointing 4-1 defeat at QPR on Easter Monday.

He added: “I was critical of my players from the second half against QPR so it is only fair I praise them today. It was an excellent performance against a team with a lot of good players, a really good response from the lads.

“We scored three and could have had five or six, and it follows on from Reading at home, when we could have had six of seven, and Fulham when we gave a good performance against a really good side. I think this shows we are heading in the right direction.”