Speaking to the Aston Villa’s official Twitter account, Steve Bruce has challenged his side to win seven of their remaining eight fixtures, to challenge for a place in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.

A winless run stretching from Boxing Day to late February, left Villa flirting with the Championship’s relegation zone, but five victories from their last six fixtures has lifted Bruce’s side into the top-half of the table.

With eight fixtures of the Championship remaining, Villa are 11-points behind sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday, leaving them a mammoth job of breaking into the top-six.

Admitting his side would probably have to remain unbeaten to secure a top-six finish, Bruce said: “We have eight games. If we won seven and drew one, maybe.”

If Villa are to break into the top-six, Bruce will be targeting victories over high-flying Reading, Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion, three of the eight opponents they will face before the end of the regular season.

Bruce’s side begin their Championship run-in on Saturday with a clash against Norwich City at Villa Park.

Villa fans… Do you still have hope of a Play-Off appearance? Let us know in the comments!