Steve Bruce: Tie still in the balance despite Aston Villa win
Steve Bruce warned Villa’s play-off semi-final with Middlesbrough remains “in the melting pot” despite his team gaining a first-leg advantage.
Mile Jedinak’s first-half header earned Bruce’s Villa a 1-0 victory in Saturday’s first-leg at the Riverside Stadium.
The two teams now meet again at Villa Park on Tuesday night, where the hosts will be favourites to progress through to Wembley.
But boss Bruce, who has twice won promotion through the play-offs, sounded a note of caution.
He said: “It is still in the melting pot. We beat Wolves 4-1 and then lost to QPR on the Tuesday night earlier in the season. It can happen. How we recover is going to be crucial.
“The dressing room is very quiet. I think they know the job is only half done. We have to play them on Tuesday night.
“Villa Park is already sold out. It will be a great game. Let’s hope we can have the advantage to take us over the line.”
Jedinak headed the only goal of the game in the 15th minute, with Boro keeper Darren Randolph denying Villa a second when he tipped Robert Snodgrass’s shot onto the post.
“That would have been crucial,” said Bruce. “It was a great save, a wonderful save. Had that gone in it might have been all over. To try and chase 2-0 would have been very difficult.”
Bruce reserved particular praise for Alan Hutton, who expertly neutered the threat posed by Boro winger Adama Traore.
The Scot, who out of contract in the summer, switched wings in the second half as Villa kept their former man quiet.
Bruce said: “Alan was terrific. He rolled his sleeves up like I knew he would.
“I have probably picked Hutton more than anyone else in my time at the club.”
The boss continued: “He is out of contract. I have not had any time to have a discussion with him because we all don’t know what is happening at the end of the season.
“If ever a performance deserves a contract then that one did. It was immense. He will have to do the same on Tuesday.
“All the clichés are going to come out of course and we know the Championship is riddled with strange things.
“We’ve given ourselves a small advantage. We’re winning one-nil at half-time.”
