Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini: New boss Steve Bruce has filled Aston Villa with belief

Saturday's 1-0 victory over Fulham, which came courtesy of an 80th-minute Jonathan Kodjia strike, means Villa have taken seven points from three games since Bruce replaced Roberto Di Matteo in the managerial dugout.

And Gollini said: "He is a very experienced man, has a big character and personality and has given us confidence.

"Maybe we were missing it a little bit, though it is always hard when you are not getting results. He is doing good work with us, just for the confidence.

"We didn't have a lot of time to work because there were three games in a week and every training session has been positive. It's good for us."

For the first time this season, Villa have what feels like momentum as they approach Sunday's Second City Derby at Blues and, after conceding a host of late goals early in the campaign, the breaks finally seem to be going their way. Kodjia's goal came from an error by Fulham keeper David Button and followed Jordan Ayew's 90th-minute penalty in last Tuesday's 2-1 win at Reading.

"We stuck together in those moments and it's something which is helping us now," continued Gollini. "With the group we have, the quality in the team, we can do very good things.

"Things in football can turn around if you believe they will change. I think we were unlucky in the games where we conceded in the last minute but it was also was our responsibility. In the last few games we have been a bit more lucky and doing good things to get us the win."

Gollini, a £4.25million summer signing from Hellas Verona, is meanwhile looking forward to his first taste of Birmingham derby action. He said: "

I know how much it means to the people in the city and how much it means for the fans.

"It's good for us to have a whole week to get ready for the game and recover from the last few. We are going to be ready for a battle."