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Championship weekend preview: Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce dismisses early pressure

Steve Bruce manager of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Aston Villa at the Madejski Sta
Image: Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is under pressure after a poor start to the season

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has dismissed speculation about his job security as "ridiculous" following a winless start to the campaign.

Second-bottom Villa host Norwich on Saturday having taken a solitary point from their three opening Sky Bet Championship matches. Despite feeling the criticism is premature, Bruce admits he needs a victory against the Canaries at Villa Park.

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Aston Villa
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"(Pressure) comes with the territory," he said. "It is quite ridiculous after a week. I shouldn't have to judge myself after such a short time. I have to ride the storm.

"We all want a good start and managers dread a bad start. The pressure is big at this club - I need a win on Saturday to shut them up."

There is a mouth-watering match in prospect in Saturday's late kick-off with Sunderland set to host Leeds, on the same channel from 5.15pm.

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Highlights from Hillsborough as Sheffield Wednesday faced Sunderland in the Sky Bet Championship

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Black Cats boss Simon Grayson has called for home supporters to make the Stadium of Light a hostile place to visit ahead of the clash with one of his former clubs.

"It's an unbelievable atmosphere when it gets going and the Derby game highlighted that, because I thought the supporters were excellent. And hopefully come Saturday - and throughout the season - they come in their numbers and make it a difficult place for the opposition to come," Grayson told Sunderland's official website.

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"If you have a full stadium it can be an intimidating atmosphere and it can really inspire the players. These are the games the players want to be involved in and look forward to because it'll be a great atmosphere and Leeds have a big following."

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At the top of the table, early leaders Cardiff make the trip to Molineux to face a Wolves side who have also enjoyed a 100 per cent start to the campaign. Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock believes their positive early-season form has created a buzz around the club.

"I don't see many players not enjoying themselves," he said. "We know we'll come up against teams where we won't get results. But we've got to enjoy it when doing well and not get down when it changes."

The day's early game promises to be a fiery encounter, with Barnsley making the short journey down the M1 to do battle with South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Barnsley and Nottingham Forest

In the pick of Saturday's other games, last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday meet at Craven Cottage, Derby go to Bolton and Nottingham Forest entertain Middlesbrough.

Ipswich will attempt to maintain their 100 per cent start at home to Brentford, Bristol City host Millwall, Reading travel to Preston, and QPR welcome Hull to Loftus Road.

On Friday night, Burton came from behind to beat Birmingham 2-1.

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