Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has called on fans to remain calm as the club's slow start to the Championship season continues.

Tipped by many as the favourites for the title this season, the Villans have accumulated seven points and just one win from their opening seven fixtures and were last night held to a goalless draw at home by Middlesbrough.

Villa had a man advantage for almost an hour of play following Adama Traore's dismissal in the fourth minute but once again failed to find the net, three days after the same result against a struggling Brentford at Villa Park.

"In times like this you have to stay strong, fight the flak and pull together," Bruce told reporters afterwards. "I think we should have beaten them.

"We had a poor performance on Saturday but there's no need for the hysteria that goes with it. We understand we've had a bad start in terms of points but not in terms of some of the performances we've put in. You stay with it and stay positive and create chances and take them.

"The frustration is that we haven't scored again and then of course the negativity comes out that we're unattractive and all the rest of it. We've had 19 attempts today but couldn't score and that's been the problem since I've been here.

"I can understand the hysteria that surrounds us because of the expectation and we're aware of that. I feel we're a good side in this division and it will turn."

Next up for Villa is a trip to Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.