Progress made at Aston Villa, but more still required

That the 55-year-old's arrival in October had the desired effect at Villa Park is without question.

Of the 14 Championship games in which Bruce has taken charge, Villa have won 25 points and a club which began the season still suffering the hangover of a Premier League relegation has finally discovered some upward momentum.

Countless unwanted records and hoodoos have been ended or smashed. Villa won away again, claimed back-to-back victories and overturned a deficit to take three points all within the first month of Bruce's reign.

The tendency to concede late, which so blighted them during the opening weeks of the campaign and proved the undoing of predecessor Roberto Di Matteo, has meanwhile been reversed. It is Villa who frequently find the net in the final minutes to salvage a point or claim a win. The mentality, so fragile back in August, is far stronger.

It is also true, however, that Villa enter tomorrow's derby on their worst run of form so far under Bruce, winless in three and having lost their last two, even if admittedly one of those was away to Tottenham in the FA Cup.

There also remains an inescapable sense the next few games could be pivotal if Villa are to achieve their goal of reaching the play-offs this season.

While their run under Bruce has lifted them up the table – they were five points behind Wolves after the game at Villa Park – the top six have remained frustratingly hard to catch.

After picking up a somewhat fortunate point against Wolves, Villa were nine points adrift of the play-off positions. For all the progress since then, the gap still stands at seven and though much time remains in the season, Bruce knows they cannot afford to let it grow much larger, or risk being left with too much ground to make up.

That will mean picking up some victories while talisman Jonathan Kodjia is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

For those supporters who like their history, a trip to Molineux might be reason for encouragement. Villa have not lost there in their last 11 visits, a run which stretches back the best part of four decades.

Yet if they are to continue it, they will need to improve on a record which has seen them net just seven times in 13 away games so far this term, by some distance the worst return of any team in the second tier.

Gabby Agbonlahor is again likely to start up front, though Villa's real issues lie in midfield and can only be addressed in the transfer market. Nottingham Forest's Henri Lansbury should join before the month is out and is unlikely to be the only addition in the middle of the park.

Bruce is aware of the work which still needs to be done.

"We've had little shoots of recovery since I've been at the club," he said. "We're third or fourth in the form table.

"We have to be able to mount a challenge and try and get back there. I'll do everything I possibly can. I've waited 20 years for an opportunity like this."