Villa thank ‘Premier class’ Grealish
JACK’S still the lad in these parts with Mr Grealish showing why Spurs were desperate to sign him – and why Aston Villa fans didn’t want to see him go.
The creative midfielder was mesmerising, magical.
Everything that Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was desperate to capture and covet, with Grealish finally shrugging his shoulders and getting on with what he does best in claret and blue.
And what a starring role he played in a high-tempo performance, throwing his sweat-stained shirt to the faithful after a dramatic added-time goal from Birkir Bjarnason won it for the hosts.
Villa boss Steve Bruce said: “Considering what’s gone on for him and his family, the way they have conducted themselves and the way he’s gone about his work today, he’s been a breath of fresh air.
“Today was the reason the Premier League wants to buy him. He oozes class. You pay good money to watch him. He’s run his socks off – but the referees need to protect him.”
Wigan manager Paul Cook praised Grealish as an “absolute top player” but added: “I’m happy with all aspects of the game but not the result.
“The players were absolutely excellent. But you can’t come to away grounds and say you played well but still get a defeat. A draw would have been a positive result.”
There was no getting away from it being a Grealish tale.
The maestro, at the club since he was six, was involved in every early move – and foul – as Wigan just couldn’t handle him and handed out the rough treatment. It was a free-kick after 13 minutes, when Grealish was again upended, and John McGinn swung in the set-piece for James Chester to power home a header.
But, against the odds, Wigan drew level with a real gift before the break.
Mile Jedinak was woefully short with his back pass and Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland clattered the ball into the legs of Nick Powell, with the ricochet spinning into the net. Villa Park was shellshocked.
This wasn’t in the firsthalf script when Bruce had been entitled to believe his side would go into the break with a healthy lead.
But it got worse 10 minutes after the restart when Powell’s cross was headed in by Callum Connolly to further rip up Villa’s plans.
They recovered their composure in the 63rd minute when McGinn’s corner caused panic in the Wigan defence and Chey Dunkley suffered an own goal embarrassment.
And in stoppage time, substitute Conor Hourihane delivered and Bjarnason did the rest to send Bruce on a dance of delight with his arms pointing to the heavens, his fist pumping.