Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce urged fans to stick by the club, following another disappointing result in the Sky Bet Championship, reports the club’s official website.

Bruce’s side suffered their third consecutive defeat on Saturday afternoon, losing out 1-0 to Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town at Villa Park, leaving Villa without a win since Boxing Day.

Villa fans were left frustrated as their side slipped further down the table, something their manager understands: “I understand the frustration, I understand it totally.

“It is not just about the weekend.

“They want to see their team improve and Saturday was a backward step.”

Saturday’s result damaged Villa’s slim chances of a Play-Off place, but Bruce hailed the club’s supporters: “You have to stick with it and, to be fair, they do.

“We had another 30,000 here which is why it is a big, huge club and why everyone wants to come and play here - and play against us.”

Villa now sit 16^th in the Championship, having entered the season as one of the teams tipped for promotion to the Premier League.

Bruce’s side are now a mammoth 16-points behind Sheffield Wednesday, who sit sixth in the Championship table, but more worrying for Villa fans, the club are just seven points above of the relegation zone.

Villa are back in action on Tuesday evening, facing highflying Barnsley at Villa Park, where they will be looking to ease their relegation fears with a positive result.

Villa fans… Are you nervous about being pulled into a relegation battle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!