Steve Bruce battling to prevent history repeating at Aston Villa
As Villa struggle to get their season off the ground, supporters might be forgiven for feeling they have seen the story somewhere before.
Similarities between the start to this campaign under Steve Bruce and the previous one under Roberto Di Matteo are not limited to the identical points haul of seven from the opening seven games.
The manner by which Villa are dropping points is also somewhat familiar.
Bruce’s team might not share the affliction for conceding late which blighted Di Matteo's but boy, do they miss some chances.
Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough when Villa’s players were unable to convert what can only be described as ‘sitters’.
Factor in Andre Green’s late miss in the opening day draw with Hull, along with gilt-edged opportunities squandered in defeats at Cardiff and Reading and boss Bruce is entitled to think he might be sitting a little easier were his men able to hit the target.
Many of the fixtures seem familiar to 12 months ago too – an away day at Bristol City and home draw with Brentford.
Villa head to Barnsley tomorrow for the second September running and just as 12 months ago, they do so with their manager under mounting pressure.
Last season’s game at Oakwell – a draw 1-1 in which Villa conceded an 89th minutes equaliser – proved to be Di Matteo’s penultimate in charge. It is reasonable to believe Bruce is now sailing similarly close to the edge, following an opening six weeks which have fallen some way below expectation.
The 56-year-old understandably points to the youth of the campaign when questioning the ‘hysteria’ which has kicked up on social media and the terraces.
It would be wrong, however, to ignore the fact this is a scenario brewing long before August.
Villa’s form during the calendar year, aside from a run of seven wins in eight from late February to early April, has been lamentable.
From 29 league games, they have taken just 34 points, a record which makes should leave no-one in any doubt why such frustrations exist within the fanbase.
Bruce went into the season knowing a strong start was required and failed to achieve it.
Countered against that is the 56-year-old’s stellar record of getting teams out of the division and a reluctance among Villa’s hierarchy to bring about further, drastic change unless absolutely necessary.
Over the course of two transfer windows, Bruce has revamped the playing squad, bringing in a profit which has eased the club’s Financial Fair Play concerns. Good players have come in, though others have had to be moved out and the manager would argue that only now, with the return to fitness of star striker Jonathan Kodjia, does he have anywhere close to his best team available.
A man appointed to bring stability so long missing in B6 will get a little more time to deliver. But right now he is in a dangerous spot, no doubt about that.
