BYWATER IS BREWING UP ESCAPE PLAN
Chester says Grealish return will ensure Steve Bruce’s men bounce back in style
BOLTON BURTON ALB
Dyer 23
0 1
BURTON keeper Stephen Bywater insists the whole club believe they can survive.
The Brewers won for only the second time in 14 matches to move within a point of safety.
And Bywater, star of the show at the Macron, is sure Albion will stay in the Championship for a third straight season.
He said: “We’ve a good atmosphere, good togetherness and you might think it would be different if we lose, draw or win, but we’re the same all the time.
“We believe in ourselves, we know it’s going to be tough and we’re pitting our wits against these big hitters in this league and we’re going to do all right.”
Lloyd Dyer scored the only goal of the game on 23 minutes. Bywater then made a stunning double save to foil Bolton’s David Wheater and Darren
Pratley (above). He said: “I saved it onto the crossbar. I got my fingers on it, it bounced down and my instant reaction was, ‘Get up’, so I got up and I don’t know what happened then.
“I think the guy (Pratley) headed it, he should have scored to be honest.
“It must have been a good save, mustn’t it? Happy days. I was relieved, as we defended throughout the 90 minutes.”
Bolton are back in the drop zone but boss Phil Parkinson said: “One result can change it. Not many months ago, people had written us off completely. Now we’ve given ourselves a fighting chance.“ JAMES CHESTER says the return of Villa’s “most talented player” can help revive them.
The Villa captain looked gutted by this defeat against promotion-rivals Derby, but was encouraged that Jack Grealish made his first start of the season.
Midfielder Grealish had been out of the starting line-up following a summer kidney operation.
Villa could desperately use his spark in another big game on Saturday against Sheffield United – with the sides level on points in the play-off spots.
And Wales defender Chester said: “Jack is the most talented player we’ve got at the club. He’s been unfortunate this season but it’s great to see him back.
“He gives us another string to our bow. Perhaps he and Josh Onomah are the only two players who can get in between the lines, pick the ball up, and create problems.”
Grealish returned to action in November but made only late substitute appearances until this impressive 90 minutes at Pride Park. Manager Steve Bruce said the midfielder was “the best player on the pitch by a million miles.”
But Villa lacked punch further forward – they were missing the injured Jonathan Kodjia and ill Keinan Davis — with Bruce starting without a specialist striker.
They also repeatedly shot themselves in the foot, the worst error coming from Glenn Whelan.
The former Stoke midfielder’s shocking back-pass was pounced on by Matej Vydra, who squared for Andreas Weimann to score from six yards.
Villa academy product Weimann was respectfully reserved with his celebration, but Whelan showed he was devastated.
The visitors were killed off when Johnny Russell (left) came off the bench and struck a late clincher.
Derby go into the Christmas fixtures in fourth place and will hope to avoid another implosion later in the season.
Captain Richard Keogh believes they are a “different Derby” to the ones who have faded in past years.
Ireland defender Keogh said: “We’re just focusing on the here and now. As a player and a person you have to learn from the past.
“This is the first full season here for Gary Rowett and that’s something new straight away. We approach things differently.”