Saturday 22 October 2016 20:02, UK
Manager Steve Bruce believes Aston Villa are reaping the rewards of making "huge changes throughout the club" after extending his unbeaten start with a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship win over Fulham.
It marked the first time Villa had chalked up back-to-back home wins since May 2014, when they defeated Everton and West Ham, and saw Fulham slip to a first away loss this term.
"We have made a decent start and I am delighted for the players. A week ago they were quiet. There have been huge changes throughout the club," said Bruce, who has picked up seven points from three games in his first week in charge.
"We have tried to breathe a bit of life back into the players. Thankfully when they respond, and get a couple of good results, that does no harm.
"We have everything in place to try our best. It is going to be difficult but it is fair to say we can only get better."
One player who has definitely seems to have benefited from Bruce's arrival is Jonathan Kodjia. The 27-year-old Ivory Coast forward grabbed the decisive goal in the 80th minute at Villa Park on Saturday, at a time when it appeared the midlands club were drifting to their sixth home draw in seven games this term.
Fulham operated a containing operation and it was successful until Villa's late strike, the visitors' defence wrong-footed when goalkeeper David Button found himself carelessly out of position. Substitute Albert Adomah found himself in acres of space and his quick cross went to the unmarked Kodjia, who hooked the ball home.
Bruce said: "Fulham didn't cause us any problems but they are a difficult team to beat.
"There are big expectations here at Villa and you are having a tough time. You have to dig deep and work your way out of trouble. But there is only one solution and that is to work hard to earn a few good results.
"We have got to turn things around. Villa Park has been an awful place for too long. Hopefully this is the start and we are going to go onwards and upwards."
On match-winner Kodjia, Bruce added: "This was his third goal in a week. It was a wonderful finish. I know the goalkeeper made a mistake but the finish was tremendous."
