Aston Villa sack Steve Bruce after 1 win in last 10 games

Championship side Aston Villa sacked manager Steve Bruce after winning just once in their last 10 games across all competitions, an official statement confirmed.

Villa's capitulation at home to bottom side Preston North End on Wednesday, in which the hosts threw away a two-goal lead and ultimately settled for a 3-3 draw, proved to be the final straw for the club's new owners, Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris - not to mention the Villa Park faithful, judging by the cabbage that was pelted at the 57-year-old Bruce during the game.

The club also confirmed assistants Colin Calderwood, Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence, and Gary Walsh have left their posts with immediate effect.

"We would like to place on record our gratitude to Steve and his team for their hard work and commitment," the statement read. "We wish them well for the future.

"The process of recruiting a new manager has begun. In the meantime, Kevin MacDonald, Aston Villa U23s manager, will be in charge of the team for our trip to Millwall on Saturday."

With their storied history, large fan base, and hefty spending power, Villa was expected to be among the favorites to win promotion from the second tier. Instead, after losing the playoff final to Fulham at Wembley last season, the club has taken several steps back in the first two months of the new campaign despite adding Premier League players such as Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham and Everton winger Yannick Bolasie.

Former Sunderland and Hull City boss Bruce had been in the Aston Villa role since October 2016, when he replaced Roberto Di Matteo, who was sacked exactly two years ago to the day, on Oct. 3, 2016. Having overseen more than 100 competitive games in charge of the Villans, Bruce was the club's longest-serving head coach since Paul Lambert.

It seems the decision may not be a universally popular one at Bodymoor Heath, however. Shortly after widespread reports of Bruce's dismissal broke on Twitter - but before the club confirmed his exit - Abraham tweeted an emoji of a face with steam coming from the nostrils, commonly used to express frustration. He deleted the tweet shortly afterward, but not before it had been liked by star teammate Jack Grealish.