Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce: 'My playoff experience can help'

Steve Bruce has insisted that his "totally different" experiences in the Championship playoffs will be an advantage when Aston Villa take on Middlesbrough.

The experienced boss is aiming to secure promotion to the top flight for a fifth time, having previously achieved the feat twice with both Birmingham City and Hull City.

Ahead of Saturday evening's semi-final first leg against Boro at the Riverside Stadium, Bruce believes that his 100% record during the end-of-season shootout will only aid his side.

"I've been in this position before and been successful so the experience helps you," he said at his pre-match press conference. "In both [Birmingham and Hull] they've been totally different. You can't predict it but the one thing you have to be able to do is perform.

"I think we've got the right experience - we've certainly picked players who can handle playing for Aston Villa and hopefully their experience will get us over the line and where we want to be.

"We've proved that we can go to Middlesbrough and get a result but it's going to be difficult because the four teams that are in it are big clubs. We've probably, I think, got the most difficult one but let's enjoy that challenge and rise to it. We know it's going to be difficult for them too."

Bruce earned his record four Championship promotions between 2002 and 2016.