Tuesday 4 April 2017 23:48, UK
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce admits the Sky Bet Championship play-offs are out of his side's reach despite their 1-0 win over QPR on Tuesday night.
Jonathan Kodjia struck his 18th goal of the season to earn Villa their seventh win in eight matches and move nine points behind the top six.
But with only six matches to play this season, Bruce knows his side have left their charge too late.
"I believe that we have given ourselves too much to do," Bruce said.
"We have got to improve with the ball particularly late in the game.
"But they have found the resilience which is required in the Championship. To concede only one goal in eight games is an incredible turn around.
"It is a shame we are not four or five points closer to the play-offs but that is where we are at the moment.
"With six games to go we have probably given ourselves too much to do but we are making a fist of it which is good."
Bruce acknowledges that a great deal of Villa's success is down to the goals of Kodjia.
"There is a huge emphasis on Jon and the quality of his goal won us the match." said Bruce.
"QPR had good possession and made it difficult for us and when you do not get the second goal you become edgy, the crowd become edgy and the whole thing develops into an awkward evening which for me should have been more comfortable."
