Aston Villa owner Dr. Tony Xia has delivered his Twitter verdict on the club’s disappointing loss to Norwich at the weekend, and fans have reacted by calling for him to sack manager Steve Bruce.
The Villans suffered a dismal 3-1 defeat to the Canaries at Carrow Road on Saturday in a result that effectively killed their hopes of automatic promotion, with second-placed Cardiff now seven points ahead with a game in hand.
With Bruce’s side having just five games left in the season, the chances of them achieving a second-placed finish are now very remote, with Fulham above them the only side in with a shout of catching the Bluebirds.
A stunning goal from Josh Murphy just before half-time saw Norwich take a deserved lead, before Dennis Srbeny’s first goal for the Canaries since arriving in January doubled their advantage.
Jack Grealish managed to pull one back for the Villans with about 25 minutes to go when he stroked home Jonathan Kodjia’s pull back, but James Maddison rounded off a Canaries win just five minutes later.
Owner Xia posted to Twitter on Monday about the result, saying he had taken two days to recover from the gutting loss, and calling for the team to bounce back in their upcoming games.
Took two days to ‘recover’,still gutted, guess same as all Villans felt. But we have to recharge and get it going again. #UTV
— Dr. Tony Xia (@Dr_TonyXia) April 9, 2018
Many fans have now reacted to his post by calling for manager Bruce to be sacked after Villa’s poor recent run of results which has seen them win just one of their last five games.
This is Futbol have rounded up some of the best tweets:
We have hit our ceiling under this manager. Same as we did under MON. We need someone new. Bruce was good turning the mentality and mood around the place. Now its time for someone to push us on and get us back where we belong! #avfc
— Chrsmo (@Chrsmo) April 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/VillaMad3/status/983305157583822848
Get Bruce out!
— Onkar 'Kari' Singh (@1OnkarSingh) April 9, 2018
I feel you have been very I'll advised Dr Tony. Steve Bruce is taking us no where. You have spent more money than wolves and look at there performance to ours. This comes from the manager. They have a good one with a style of play. We don't. Get Marco silva asap.
— Kevin palmer (@Kevinpalmervill) April 9, 2018
Well do something about it. We still have a chance in playoffs but need new energy. We will fail miserably with Mr Negative in charge
— David Way (@davidway16) April 9, 2018
If Villa fail to gain promotion, are you going to carry out the veiled actions, (Bruce has said if we fail to gain promotion, I know the consequences). To which I take to mean he won't be in charge nxt season. Or will you pull the plug on Villa
— Mike Knott (@MikeKnott11) April 9, 2018
Motivation is the key ? if your manager cannot motivate your players and plays one 4ft 2 bloke on his own up front we will not win games to win games you score goals to score goals you need to attack with two strikers !! #simples #UTV
— Robbie (@robbielad51) April 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/jimavfc1968/status/983300170535325696