Bruce wants to remain at Villa

"I'm in charge of a great club with great tradition, history and support," he said to 'Sky Sports'.

"I'm gutted for everybody but I'll roll my sleeves up and get stuck into it again, because that's what I do. As long as the people above me want me to do it then I'll carry on.

"We didn't do enough in the first half. We were too deep and too respectful and didn't do enough with or without the ball to create any real pressure on Fulham. Whether it was the occasion or the heat, who knows? But we just didn't do enough.

"But there were big decisions that went against us too. [Fredericks] for me should have had a red card early on, it was right in front of the referee and the fourth official. No one wants to see a spectacle ruined but when it's deliberate as that he deserves one.

"It was part of their game-plan and it was a bit cynical but I don't want to make that the excuse. Jack, with the way he plays, is going to draw a foul.

"Second half we were much better and asked a few more questions, but to be brutally honest that wasn't hard. Then you just need a break and unfortunately, we didn't get it. "We just needed that run [Grealish] went on that got everyone out of the seats to go in, and if it had then I'm sure we would have gone on to win the match."