Steve Bruce reveals why he wants Aston Villa to be in the same mould as Cardiff City by the end of the transfer window
Aston Villa Fc
Friday 11th August 2017
Steve Bruce has revealed he hopes to mould his Aston Villa side into the same shape as Cardiff City by the end of the summer transfer window.
The Villans have been widely tipped for promotion into the Premier League this season having recruited the likes of John Terry from Chelsea, Ahmed Elmohamady from Hull and Glenn Whelan from Stoke.
And the Aston Villa manager believes his side need to be more like Neil Warnock's Cardiff if they are to challenge at the top end of the Championship table during the 2017-18 campaign.
"I'm hoping by the time the window finishes that we'll have an Aston Villa team in the same sort of mould (as Cardiff)," said Bruce.
"The one thing you do know what you're going to get with Neil Warnock's team is that they'll be highly committed, they'll be up and at you with a physical presence in a lot of areas, very good at free-kicks, very direct and that's what the Championship is.
"We play the complete opposites in the next two away games. One's going to be physical, a typical Neil Warnock team and then we've got Reading who play a totally different way on Tuesday so that's what the Championship is and we've got two big challenges ahead."
Joe Ralls' first half strike earned the Bluebirds all three points in the corresponding fixture last term as Villa looked to recover - in similar fashion to Cardiff - from their poor start to the season under Roberto Di Matteo.
And Bruce admits Villa must drastically improve their away form this season if they are to stand any chance of making a return to the top flight of English football.
"If we're going to be successful and mount a challenge then our away form has to improve," added the former Manchester United defender.
"Before I walked into the club last October, we hadn't won away from home for 18 months.
"We couldn't have asked for a more difficult challenge of what the Championship is, a typical Neil Warnock team, we know what to expect and if you don't put your boots on and turn up then you're in trouble."