FIVE-STAR VILLA
Snodgrass hits double to spark a demolition
IF robert Snodgrass can keep up this fearsome form, he could once again be playing in the Premier League in claret and blue. It will not be for West ham, however. his career at the club reached a low point last month when co-owner David Sullivan revealed his children had ‘begged’ him not to sign the winger from hull.
Snodgrass has responded in some style, with yesterday’s brace against Bristol City sending Aston villa, who have him on loan until the end of the season, to within five points of the automatic promotion places.
Steve Bruce’s side have won twice in 48 hours, with Snodgrass also scoring the winner at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
villa made hay against Bristol City, with their biggest win since beating Sunderland 6-1 in the Premier League in April 2013.
Scott hogan, Birkir Bjarnason and Conor hourihane were also on target as, even with half-a-dozen players injured, villa looked far fresher than a City side who had lost in desperate fashion against Wolves on Saturday evening.
With Frankie Fielding suspended after the red card that led to Wolves’ equaliser, Luke Steele deputised in goal but was soon picking the ball out of his net.
Scott hogan had not scored a league goal all season but he got on the end of Albert Adomah’s excellent left-wing cross to glance home a fine header.
The duo combined again for the second goal, but this time Steele parried hogan’s header to Snodgrass, who hooked the ball over the line.
City came out for the second half with a plan to go for broke. Lee Johnson introduced Matty Taylor and threw goalscoring centre half Aden Flint up front alongside him in a 3-1-4-2 formation.
The adventurous policy almost paid off within four minutes, but Taylor got in the way of Flint’s header from point-blank range.
City pushed forward but soon paid the price as villa countered. Grealish carried the ball half the length of the field before slipping it to Snodgrass, who took one touch before slotting home.
The game was so open that it was no surprise when Bjarnason made it 4-0 with his first contribution, two minutes after coming off the bench.
hourihane shot home from a deflected cross by substitute rushian hepburn-Murphy five minutes from time.