Pepe’s lifeline for Villa
FORMER ANFIELD HERO DENIES BRIGHTON WITH STUNNING LATE SAVE
PEPE REINA is already having a huge impact on Aston Villa after he produced a stunning late save to earn his team a point in a feisty clash at Brighton.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper has only just arrived on loan from AC Milan but made a crucial stop to deny Neal Maupay in injury time at the Amex.
Maupay ended the game being hauled down the tunnel by his own captain after a shoving match with Ezri Konsa – a player who used to be his team-mate at Brentford.
But Villa boss Dean Smith wanted to focus on the contribution of Reina and of Jack Grealish, whose stunning 75th minute goal earned a point after Leandro Trossard had struck for Brighton in the first half.
“It was a great save and a telling contribution,” he said. “Overall he was calmness personified. You wouldn’t have known he was making his debut for a new team.
“He’s a World Cup winner and the players know they have a calm head behind them. That character and charisma he’s got is rubbing off on people.”
Smith was also delighted with Grealish, who thumped home his ninth goal of an incredible season.
He added: “It’s a great finish from Jack but it’s what we’ve come to expect from him. You do start to run out of superlatives for him.”
And the good news for Villa fans is that Grealish will soon have some help, with the club very close to signing striker Mbwana Samatta from Genk for £10million.
Smith went on: “Jack is scoring but we still need a striker and we’re getting very close. The paperwork is just getting ticked off for Samatta. If we can get that done we’ll be really pleased. He’s a good player and a really good character.”
Brighton will be kicking themselves they didn’t wrap this one up in the first
half when they were comfortably the better of the two sides.
Grealish came close to putting Villa ahead but Brighton made the breakthrough in the 38th minute when Maupay marauded forward to slide in Trossard’s assist for a fine left-foot finish.
But Albion slowed down after the break as Villa upped the tempo and paid the price. Substitute Douglas Costa played a superb ball after 75 minutes to set Grealish free and the 24-year-old’s thumping left-foot finish was a bit special.
Brighton boss Graham Potter moaned: “We played really well in the first half but made a positional error and Grealish punished us. We’re disappointed, but it’s another point.”
Albion got their second wind but missed out on all three points when Reina, playing his first game in the Premier League since May 2013, turned Maupay’s acrobatic effort around the post.
Brighton’s fiery striker was then involved in an angry shoving match with Konsa, which only ended when Albion captain Lewis Dunk picked him up and dragged his team-mate down the tunnel
Smith said: “They were good mates at Brentford, but I’m not sure they are now. I like Neal. He has got the mist that can descend but I think it was handbags.”
Potter won’t be reading the Frenchman the riot act, either. “We know he’s that type of character – that’s what makes him who he is,” said Potter. “It’s about how he controls and manages the situation.”