*Loan duo Tammy Abraham and Yannick Bolasie opened their Aston Villa accounts as victory over Rotherham ended a five-game winless run to ease the pressure on boss Steve Bruce.*

Twice-capped England striker Abraham, on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea, collected Jonathan Kodjia’s clever through ball to put Villa ahead in the first half.

Rotherham could have equalised but skipper Richard Wood headed Will Vaulks’ cross inches wide with 13 minutes remaining.

Everton loanee Bolasie sealed the points eight minutes from the end with a diving header from Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross as Villa recorded a first league win since 11 August.

If Villa think that was a long wait, Rotherham’s travelling support might well take umbrage - the Millers are now approaching two and a half years without a Championship away win.

Of United’s 29 second-tier travels since a 4-0 trouncing of MK Dons in April 2016, the Millers have now lost 26 and drawn three - a paltry three points from a possible 87.

It was a run they never looked like ending at Villa Park with the hosts in control from the first whistle, as Millers keeper Marek Rodak had to save smartly from an instinctive Kodjia effort four minutes in.

Villa’s new-look front two looked sharp and Kodjia provided a lovely cushioned pass for Abraham to tuck Villa ahead on 27 minutes.

Abraham, a transfer deadline day arrival at Villa Park, has already proven his Championship credentials with 23 goals in 41 games during a similar stay at Bristol City in 2016-17.

Scoring has not been an issue for Villa - defending has been their problem and this was their first league clean sheet of the season, although they were grateful to see Wood’s 77th-minute header float wide.

Substitute Bolasie eased any jitters with a late second, illustrating the options Bruce has at his disposal as Villa eased themselves back into the top six.

*Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce told BBC Radio WM 95.6:*

“I thought it was comfortable. We needed to get that second goal a little earlier and then it might have been one of those great nights.

“But, overall, with all the nonsense that’s been written, I’m pleased. We’ve won a game, we are in the top six and it looks a bit more rosy for everybody.

“I’ve always wanted to play two up top and for some reason here, it hasn’t really happened. We’ve got the personnel to do it, you’ve seen that tonight, those two [Abraham and Kodjia] will be a threat for anybody.”