Saturday 10 December 2016 21:27, UK
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce claims there is still a great to be achieved if Aston Villa are to figure in the promotion race.
A late Jack Grealish goal gave Villa a 1-0 win over Wigan on Saturday but Bruce said: "There is still a lot of improvement needed and we have to play better.
"It was a frustrating game for us masked by a great goal from Jack Grealish late in the match."
It was not until the 87th minute that Grealish clinched the three points which moved Villa to within three points of the play-offs.
Bruce quite rightly paid rich credit in particular to the individual performance of his match winner.
He said: "I am really pleased for Jack. I am delighted I have him under my wing and I will try to help him as much as I can. It is not easy for a 21 year-old but it was truly a wonderful goal.
"Imagine what it is like to score a goal like that at Villa Park at 21. I never scored a goal like that in 30 years. That is true.
"For any young player it is difficult especially in the bright lights in the second city in the country.
"I want to try and improve him as a player. He still has a long way to go but he has that natural talent where he always looks he has time on the ball.
"He has now got me a goal and two or three penalties and in eight games he has contributed massively."
The Villa manager admitted: "It was a difficult game for us. If I am honest we gave away the ball too cheaply.
"The more success we get teams are going to come and play like Wigan but describing the game as being ordinary is correct."
Villa appeared to be heading for an 11th draw in 20 games but Grealish came up trumps in the 87th minute to record only his third goal of the season.
The hosts dictated most of the game but their lack of real finishing power proved to be a massive handicap.
Wigan, who only suffered their second defeat in nine visits to Villa Park, were quite happy to defend in depth in an attempt to salvage a vital away point.
They were in sight of their objective when the ball ran loose just in front of the penalty area to the unmarked Grealish, who whipped in a fine rising shot into the top left hand corner of the net well out of the reach of Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Jaaskelainen produced several fine saves to frustrate Villa, who still have to find a positive striking formula despite possessing such expensive purchases as Ross McCormack and Jonathan Kodjia.
Latics boss Warren Joyce said: "We gave Villa a run for their money.
"It took a great piece of individual skill from Grealish to score. I thought there was a free-kick for us only 20 seconds previously which makes the result more difficult to take.
"In this situation you have to look at the positives. We stopped them with all their flair players.
"With the players we have to stop the opposition the best we can. I thought we produced some slick moves and we were good value on the day.
"Unfortunately you cannot defend against individual brilliance and trickery such as that displayed by Grealish.
"It is not doom and gloom. We have done well at a massive club and came very close to picking up a point."
