He said: "It was a bit disappointing because if we had won we would have been safe, but football is an unforgiving game and you don't always get the result you expect.
"It was not our best performance but we got a point and it's another point gained. We are professionals but we are also human and you do get nervous and we get anxious as it was a big occasion.
"But we are still five points away from the other teams at the bottom and all we can do now is concentrate next week. We have had good results against good teams and there is confidence and a buzz around the place at the moment."
The Latics need any one of Reading, Birmingham or Bolton to drop points at the weekend to be 100% sure of safety, but who would bet against Bruce's men taking something from Villa Park?