SMART LIKE ALEX
Villa boss Bruce is a chip off the Fergie block says Rob
ROBERT SNODGRASS reckons there is more than a touch of the Fergies in the way Steve Bruce is guiding Villa’s pursuit of Wolves at the top of the Championship.
Villa, with Jack Grealish hugely influential, tore Wolves apart, handing them their biggest defeat of the season.
Wolves were 12 points clear at the turn of the year but now Cardiff and third-placed Villa are reeling them in.
Snodgrass is playing a big part in Villa’s run of one defeat in 12 games, 10 of them victories, to get within seven points of the leaders.
His corner and his free-kick brought an opening goal for Albert Adomah and a second through James Chester.
Jota had got Wolves back in the game with an equaliser but, having gone 2-1 up, Villa then took control with goals from Lewis Grabban and sub Birkir Bjarnason.
Villa could do more damage if they beat QPR tomorrow night and Wolves slump again at home to Reading.
Snodgrass (above), who played for Bruce at Hull, said: “He’s just got that hold on you, he has the traits of Alex Ferguson in that he gets the best out of players.”
Bruce won the Premier League three times, FA Cup three times, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and European Super Cup at Manchester United under Fergie (below) so it’s easy to see where the influence comes from. “When I came here he was under a bit of pressure because Villa were 18th at the time,” added Snodgrass. “I can understand that pressure because at Hull we were used to being at the top in the Championship. “You need to be behind the scenes to see how good Bruce is. We all love and respect him and he gives the lads a bit of licence. The one thing he wants is that you work hard for your team. “This win is a statement to the rest of the division. It was a great performance and one which shows we mean business and that we want that automatic promotion place.”
Villa have scored 11 goals in three games while Wolves, once almost untouchable in the Championship, have become mere mortals with one win and five points from four games.
Scottish international Snodgrass, who has made more goals than anyone in the Championship, says the secret is that the Wolves defence can be opened up.
“They are good going forward but defensively they can be got at. We felt we could exploit that,” he said.
Villa demolished Wolves, whose captain Conor Coady promised Molineux fans that they would bounce back.
“There’s a huge game on Tuesday for us,” he said.
“We’ve been beaten a few times but we have always bounced back so we know what we’ve got to do.
“It’s important to realise we’re still in a position where we are in control of what happens.”
ASTON VILLA: Johnstone 6, Elmohamady 6, Chester 7, Terry 7, Taylor 6, Jedinak 6, Snodgrass 7, Grealish 8, Hourihane 6 (Lansbury 80, 5), Adomah 7 (Bjarnason 75, 6), Grabban 7 (Hogan 86)
WOLVES: Ruddy 6, Batth 6 (Saiss 67, 4), Coady 7, Boly 6, Doherty 7, N’Diaye 6, Neves 6, Douglas 6, Cavaleiro 6 (Afobe 67, 4), Bonatini 5, Jota 6 (Costa 76, 4) MOTM JACK GREALISH (VILLA)