Robert Snodgrass: Aston Villa delivered a statement of intent with Wolves hammering

The wing wizard claims Saturday’s 4-1 derby win is proof Steve Bruce’s team will not give up on automatic promotion without a fight.

Villa, who have now won 10 of their last 12 league games, remain four points behind second-placed Cardiff.

But Snodgrass reckons the manner of Saturday’s win will have made the rest of their promotion rivals sit up and take note.

“It’s a massive result for us,” he said. “We came up against one of the best teams in the league and we made them look average at times.

“We showed their weaknesses and exploited them. It was a great performance all-round, one which shows we mean business and that we want that automatic promotion place.

“It’s a statement to the rest of the division. This was a result we needed at a vital time, with teams round about us picking up points. For us to pick up three points and in the manner we did was incredible.”

Albert Adomah, James Chester, Lewis Grabban and Birkir Bjarnason got the goals on a memorable night for Villa, who still have to play Cardiff during the 10-game run-in.

Next up is a home game with QPR on Tuesday and Snodgrass added: “It’s 10 cup finals, isn’t it? Every game is huge now. Everyone is on edge thinking can we get that automatic place?

“We still have to play Cardiff, they still have to play Wolves. There are going to be twists and turns. Fulham too are on a great run.

“It was massive for us but we need to go again, that is the Championship.”

Villa now trail Wolves, who have topped the division since October, by just seven points.

“It’s a big test for them now to see how they react to that result. Nobody has done that to them this season,” said Snodgrass. “It’ll be interesting to see where they go in the next 10 games.

“But it’s the same with us, it will be interesting with us too. Maybe it’ll kick us on to stay unbeaten between now and the end of the season.

“Now we’ve got our eyes on that automatic promotion place, we want to achieve it.”