Monday 20 February 2017 23:11, UK
Steve Bruce was left disappointed with Aston Villa's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle and described the two goals they conceded as "silly" mistakes.
Yoan Gouffran prodded Newcastle in front after some poor Villa defending, while Henri Lansbury's calamitous own goal after 59 minutes ended any chance of a point at St James' Park.
"We were better but unfortunately what we've just witnessed there is us," he told Sky Sports. "We've done okay and then we give a poor goal away, and the goals we keep giving away are typical.
"So unless we learn to do the basics, they're two horrible goals to lose a game against Newcastle and that's our Achilles heel at the moment. At the other end the three, four chances we've created, we can't take them. It's been a struggle.
"We can do as much organising as we want, but we've got to be braver and better to deal with it. The second goal is a calamity, ridiculous, but that's where we are at the moment. We're making silly mistakes, getting punished and not getting a break ourselves.
"We have to keep moving forward and trying to improve. We did a lot in the transfer window, and those lads are bedding in and getting used to playing for Aston Villa. But we've obviously got to get a few wins to breed a bit of confidence and eradicate the silly mistakes."
Villa also saw striker Scott Hogan taken off on a stretcher late on to compound their miserable evening, but Bruce hopes the injury won't be as bad as first feared.
He said: "It's been compounded with Scotty who looks as if he's turned his angle over badly, which isn't going to help. It doesn't look serious we hope, but we won't know until we have scans in the next 48 hours."
