Steve Bruce brushes off Robert Snodgrass reaction in Aston Villa defeat
Boss Steve Bruce played down Robert Snodgrass’s angry reaction to being taken off during the first-half of Villa’s 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Snodgrass was withdrawn after just 40 minutes at Villa Park, with Bruce later revealing the on loan West Ham winger had played through the pain barrier with broken ribs.
The Scot hurled his strapping into the home dugout after being replaced by Callum O’Hare but Bruce said: “It is typical Snoddy. That is what you get. I would rather have that than have him delighted to come off.
“I have no problem with that. He wanted to play.”
Bruce revealed Snodgrass had undergone an injection on his rib injury and admitted regret at not having rested the 30-year-old.
“In my experience I should have known better,” he said. “When you are not right and trying to play with injections it is difficult enough when you are fit, let alone when you are not.
“It was obvious the first time he chested one he was in pain and in discomfort from the off really. He wanted to play, my experience should have been better. That was my fault.”
Adam Reach’s goal after just 19 seconds and a Jordan Rhodes strike midway through the first-half saw Villa beaten for the first time at home this season.
Substitute Chris Samba grabbed a late consolation for Bruce’s team with virtually the last kick of the game.
“We had an awful 35 minutes and a difficult first half,” said the boss. “I thought we were better in the second but we only huffed and puffed.
“It would have been interesting if Keinan’s goal would have stood. I didn’t think it was a deliberate handball.
“We scored the goal late on. We showed a bit of resilience but we have sadly been nowhere near what we have produced over the last couple of weeks in particular.”
