Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has suggested that expectations on the club were raised too high when John Terry signed from Chelsea.

The 36-year-old called an end to his illustrious career at Stamford Bridge earlier in the summer to help the Villans in their quest for Premier League promotion.

The season has not got off to the best start for the Midlands outfit as they have picked up just one point from their first three Championship games.

The winless run continued on Tuesday night when they lost 2-1 to Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Bruce feels that the hype that surrounded Terry's move to Villa raised pressure on the club to be serious promotion contenders.

"We obviously signed JT, people got carried away with the euphoria of it all," the Daily Mail quotes Bruce as saying. "We are where we are and I'm convinced I'm the right one to turn it around.

"There's still obviously a load of work to be done but judge us when all the players are fit and ready and at the minute we are having a tough time.

"We have had a tough start. Newcastle [United] had a tough start last year. We have to batten down the hatches, still believe in what we are doing and get that win which will obviously give everyone a lift."

Next up for Villa is a home match against Norwich City on Saturday.