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Steve Bruce reckons there was one negative from Aston Villa’s win over Sheffield Wednesday - that Barry Bannan wasn’t wearing claret and blue.

The diminutive midfielder didn’t have his best game for Wednesday but his involvement was a timely reminder of the mistakes made by the previous regime, particularly in the transfer market.

Bannan, 27, came through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath before joining Crystal Palace in 2013.

The manager also alluded to Marc Albrighton, who was released by the club in 2014 only to go on and win the Premier League with Leicester City last season.

Bruce said: “How on earth we’ve let Barry Bannan leave this club on a free transfer tells you which way the club’s been over the last few years.

“That’s what we’re still trying to put right. Everywhere I look, we’ve let good players leave the club. Barry Bannan in particular, there’s another one down the road who has just won the Premier League.

“All of that is the spiral of instability, if that’s the right word. We’ve got to amend all that and that takes time.

“If you keep nicking a few results, that gives you time and that’s my aim. A club like this has got to be in the top end of this division.”