Jack the lad is a man now
STEVE BRUCE believes Jack Grealish has gone from boy to man after Aston Villa hammered hapless Bristol City.
Grealish, 22, was involved in two goals and hit the post as Villa clinched their biggest win since thrashing Sunderland 6-1 in 2013.
The midfielder missed the first four months of the season with a kidney injury and Villa boss Bruce said: “The injury scared him and all of a
ASTON VILLA BRISTOL CITY
sudden, he looks a man. The strength and conditioning coach has done a marvellous job in the gym and he has worked tirelessly with him for five or six months on his running ability and his strength.”
Villa moved up to fifth and five points off the automatic promotion slots after making it back-to-back wins.
Scott Hogan headed in his first league goal since March, Robert Snodgrass grabbed two and substitute Birkir Bjarnason and Conor Hourihane completed the rout.
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson admitted the last-gasp defeat by Wolves 48 hours earlier had taken too much out of his squad. “It was probably a game too far for them,” he said.
Johnson was also angered after Bruce controlled a ball that flew into touch as Villa were cruising.
“It’s interesting Villa fans mocking us and Steve Bruce flicking balls up all over the gaffe,” he said. “We have to use that as ammunition.”