Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce hails "dying breed" Robert Snodgrass

Snodgrass made one and scored one as Villa twice fought back from a goal down before going on to win 4-2 at Hillsborough on Saturday.

The West Ham loanee provided the cross from which Glenn Whelan scored his first goal in more than six years to haul the visitors level for a second time.

He then won and converted a stoppage time penalty to put the seal on the comeback, while his work-rate summed up Villa’s spirit on an afternoon when they refused to be beaten.

Snodgrass’s efforts were not appreciated by the home crowd, who booed him off the pitch.

But Bruce said: “I think they (opposition fans) get frustrated because they want him on their team.

“Snoddy’s a dying breed, he’s got a trick in him and he manages to get crosses in. He’s not really got natural pace but he draws a foul.

“He’s been invaluable to us. It was a great ball into the box for Whelan.

“He’s been a very good acquisition since he’s come here.”

Snodgrass took Villa’s penalty despite Lewis Grabban, who had netted from the spot in the previous game against Preston, being on the pitch.

Bruce explained: “(Head of coaching) Steve Agnew decided that he (Snodgrass) was the penalty taker but that was against Preston. Snoddy wasn’t on the pitch then but Grabban was. There was a bit of to-ing and froing, I believe.

“He wanted to take it because Grabban had already scored. I’d rather have it that way than not wanting to take a penalty. He scored convincingly so fair play to him.”

Whelan’s goal was his first since scoring for Stoke in a 3-1 win over Blackburn back in November 2011. Yet the Republic of Ireland international, who made more than 100 appearances for Wednesday earlier in his career, did not celebrate.

Bruce quipped: “He had probably forgot what to do. It hit him smack bang in the mush by the way.

“You don’t get many smiles or celebrations out of Glenn. He has a steely determination. He does not smile very often.”