Bruce hails side's resilience

Latics boss pleased after his side hold high-flying Villa

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 31st January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bruce hails side's resilience

Bruce: Delighted

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Wigan boss Steve Bruce was delighted after his side held Aston Villa to earn a valuable away point to keep them seventh in the table.

Villa started brightly but could not force the goal before their keeper Brad Friedel made two great saves from Daniel De Ridder and Maynor Figueroa in the first period.

The home side then laid siege to the Wigan goal in the second half but could not make the crucial breakthrough, with Zat Knight's header hitting the post, while Figueroa and Paul Scharner cleared efforts off the line.

Bruce was delighted with his side, telling Sky Sports News that it is no fluke that his team - who also held Liverpool 1-1 in midweek - are seventh in the table.

Resilience

"It is always difficult when we play against a huge big team, with the effort they put in on Wednesday night, to try and get them to recover in time," he said.

"But I think everybody who was at the game will not fault the resilience of them, and why we are where we are."

"It is no fluke with the attitude we have got. We had a bit of luck today, but in the first-half we've had the two best chances in the game, I believe.

"Second-half, it was an onslaught and we needed a few brave bodies to get us through."

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