"The last league game here, we played Stoke at home. I thought we played ever so well, missed chance after chance and got done in the last 10 minutes and should have won the game," he told Sky Sports.
"Today we played nowhere near as well as we did against Stoke but that's how it goes, you've got to claw a result out.
"The keeper did what he does and was fantastic today. He looked a world class keeper today. So, it was three vital points in the end.
"They made it difficult. Steve came and they played with the five in midfield or 4-3-3, however you want to box it up - two wide men, three in midfield.
"Andy Reid's sitting in a holding role and he got on the ball well for them today and he's a terrific passer of the ball.
"They made it difficult, they knocked it around and they had lots of movement in there, the young kid Henderson looked a real good player to me today as well.
"So they looked a good side, I think that he's (Steve Bruce) done a great job there with them."