Wednesday 16 August 2017 14:54, UK
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce urged the club's fans to stick by the team after they lost 2-1 at Reading and vowed he would be a success if given enough time.
Tuesday night's defeat extended Villa's winless Sky Bet Championship run to three matches at the start of the season.
Jeered throughout by sections of their 4,000 travelling fans, Villa offered little in a poor first-half showing and found themselves 2-0 down when a defence containing former England captain John Terry conceded twice early in the second period.
Midfielder Glenn Whelan was credited with an own goal after unluckily deflecting in a Adrian Popa's cross in the 49th minute. Modou Barrow tapped in his first goal for Reading six minutes later.
Conor Hourihane gave Villa hope, when volleying home in the 87th minute, but Reading held on comfortably.
"I'm the manager of Aston Villa and I expect the fans to boo," Bruce said. "The results aren't what they expect and I can understand their frustration. They've paid their hard-earned money to come and see the team perform and win.
"My message to them is: I've been here many, many times and been successful at every Championship club I've been to. I've been able to get them promoted and, given time, I'll do it again.
"Now, whether I'm given that time, that's not for me to answer. But I sincerely hope so. It's a big job and I'm still in the middle of rebuilding it.
"I've got to get results, we're in a results business, I understand that. I'm under no illusions that we'll get them. But we need them quicker than we're getting them at the moment.
"It was disappointing tonight because I didn't think we deserved to lose. I was pleased with our response (to going behind), we could have gone under, but we still could have got something from the game."
Villa host Norwich on Saturday, before another home game against Wigan in the EFL Cup followed by a Friday night trip to face Bristol City at Ashton Gate on August 25, live on Sky Sports.
