Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce looking for a different formula
Steve Bruce admits promotion-chasing Villa must find a way to win without some of their most creative stars.
Villa are again likely to be without Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish when they travel to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.
Winger Robert Snodgrass is also a doubt after being forced off with illness during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Preston, while teenage striker Keinan Davis has also been assessed after taking a kick to the ankle late in the match.
Bruce watched his team plunder 16 goals during a seven-match winning run prior to last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Fulham.
But they have failed to find the net from open play during the past two matches and Bruce acknowledged it was his job to find a different formula.
“We’re missing a few, our attacking players and our creative ones,” said the boss.
“Robert Snodgrass had to go off. Ahmed Elmohamady wasn’t 100 per cent. All of a sudden four or five of the team which has been doing so well is in dock. We have to find another way.”
Villa’s winning streak – their best since 1990 – had seen them climb into the Championship’s top two.
But they head into tomorrow’s game four points behind Cardiff, who have climbed into second place at their expense.
On-loan striker Lewis Grabban is set for his first Villa start after coming off the bench to score against Preston.