Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has said that his side "gifted" Fulham their 2-0 win in Saturday's Championship clash.

Second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Floyd Ayite, which ended Villa's seven-match winning run, earned the Cottagers a vital win in their push for promotion from the Championship.

Despite his side losing to the West London club, Bruce praised Fulham for their effort in the game.

"I always thought [the winning team] would be who got the first goal," the manager told the Birmingham Mail. "There was nothing in it for the first hour. Overall, as soon as I opened us up, they were very dangerous. Whoever was chasing the game was going to risk being picked up.

"Fulham played very well, especially in the second half. It was a bit of quality from them. Once Fulham have scored the first, we have gifted them the second and all of a sudden it is a difficult afternoon. We needed it to stay at 1-0.

"When it is 2-0 and we have gifted it, you know it is not your day. We always knew it was going to be a difficult game. In a big game it is all about scoring the first goal."

Bruce's team face Preston North End at Villa Park on Tuesday in their next outing.