WESLEY INJURY TAKES THE SHINE OFF VILLA VICTORY

JACK GREALISH played a significant part in Aston Villa climbing out of the relegation zone but the downside for boss Dean Smith were worrying injuries to £22million striker Wesley and keeper Tom Heaton. Wesley, who had earlier broken his 13-game Premier League goal drought, was carried off with suspected ligament or cartilage damage to his knee after a challenge from Ben Mee. With five minutes left, Heaton then twisted his knee trying to keep out Chris Wood’s consolation header for Burnley and also left via a stretcher.

Having already spent £120m in the summer, it was no surprise when managing director Christian Purslow came on to the pitch afterwards to ask about casualties as well as offer congratulations on a second away win. ‘It was a hell of a response to our last game at Watford (a 3-0 defeat) but the injuries to Wesley and Tom totally take the gloss of it,’ said Smith. ‘Both felt their knees. We’re not sure of the prognosis yet. We’ll let them have a scan and take it from there. Wesley felt something from the tackle by Ben Mee.’ Otherwise, there was plenty for Villa to like. Skipper Grealish revealed the players and staff had delivered some ‘home truths’ at a meeting beforehand — and it got the required response. The 24-year-old thought he’d headed Villa ahead after 11 minutes before VAR controversially judged Wesley’s left heel fractionally offside in the build-up. After 27 minutes, Grealish played a one-two with Wesley before releasing the centre-forward again to fire home. The killer second, four minutes before the interval, was fired by Grealish into the roof of the net from a slick pass. Wood gave Burnley a consolation goal from Ashley Westwood’s cross after 80 minutes. Burnley manager Sean Dyche said: ‘We were a long way short in the first half. It was a head-scratcher. You can’t wait for things to happen in the Premier League.’