Aston Villa manager Dean Smith says he has an "awful lot of respect" for Steve Bruce, before Newcastle's visit to Villa Park on Monday.

Bruce was sacked by the Midlands club in October 2018, four months after losing the Championship play-off final.

His relationship with the Villa fans turned sour, with one supporter throwing a cabbage at Bruce before his final game in charge.

"I thought it was a disgrace," Smith said of the incident.

"I have an awful lot of respect for what he has done in management but, more importantly, for how he is as a man."