An irate Aston Villa fan launched a cabbage at club boss Steve Bruce as passions boiled over at Villa Park.
The disgruntled punter hurled the vegetable at the home dug-out before kick-off as the Geordie felt the full force of the fans’ unhappiness.
Bruce dodged the object but might not dodge a bullet from the club’s owners as fortunes ebbed and flowed during an incredible 90 minutes.
However, he was fuming after the incident. He said: “To say it’s disappointing is an understatement for a club like this. It was before we had even started too.
“I find the whole thing hugely disrespectful. Unfortunately, it sums up the society we are in at the moment. There’s no respect for anyone.
“Certainly for someone like the bloke who is being questioned… I’m surprised he knew what a cabbage was.”
If that had upset Bruce, those feelings did not transmit to his side. Villa were two goals ahead at half-time and cruising, courtesy of Jonathan Kodjia’s header and a neat finish from Tammy Abraham on his 21st birthday.
Then James Chester’s sending-off sparked a second-half collapse as Preston grabbed three goals without reply.
Villa old-boy Daniel Johnson reduced the deficit from the spot. Sub Paul Gallagher squeezed home a free-kick with his first touch of the ball and then Lewis Moult’s 87th-minute header sparked a chorus from the Holte End of: ‘We want Brucie out.’
But those chants were caught in the throats of the home supporters when Yannick Bolasie stabbed home from close-range deep in injury-time.
That appeared to be that. But referee Darren England – who had angered Bruce with the decision to dismiss Chester – then pointed to the spot after a push on Birkir Bjarnason by Johnson.
Villa sub Glenn Whelan stepped up – but North End keeper Chris Maxwell guessed correctly and saved what turned out to be the last kick of the match.
Bruce said: “I don’t think you can sum up an evening like that.
“Obviously, the whole game turns on a decision I’ve seen five times. It’s a harsh pen and a worse sending-off. It’s a disgraceful decision.
“With ten men in the second-half it was always going to be difficult but they scored from a free-kick, a corner and a penalty which is a big disappointment.”
Asked about his own future in the context of cabbage-gate, he added: “That’s for others to decide. You need results.
“The one thing I’ve always had is the determination to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in. I’ll always have a go.
“But this has been building since the defeat at Sheffield United.
“That’s what I’m up against at the moment. I will battle on. That’s always been my philosophy until told otherwise.”
Preston boss Alex Neil said: "I’ve been involved in football all my life but I’ve never been involved in a game like that.
"For spectators it must be great, but as a manager it’s going to put me in an early grave."
Source: Read Full Article