Greality bites for poor Villa
SLACK WITHOUT JACK – HORNETS STING SMITH ON PREM RETURN
ON this grim evidence, life after Jack Grealish is going to be a real struggle for Aston Villa.
Villans boss Dean Smith may have brought in a host of replacements with some of the £100million Manchester City paid for the England superstar.
But that expenditure counted for zip at Vicarage Road as the Jack-less Midlands outfit were torn to shreds by newly-promoted Watford.
For 70 minutes, at least.
By then the Hornets were three up through Emmanuel Dennis, Ismaila Sarr and Cucho Hernandez.
And not even a late Villa fightback could wipe the gloss off a magnificent return to the big time for the buzzing hosts.
Nor spare the lacklustre visitors a scathing postmatch lashing from fuming
Smith. The unhappy Villa boss rapped: “We lacked intensity – it was like we were playing a friendly throughout the first half.
“We played it too casual. We need far more intensity because that it is our identity. We won’t accept performances like that.”
Hornets boss Xisco Munoz said: “Today was perfect because we met with our fans and they’re happy because of a very important three points. It was an amazing performance, the team was so hungry. We need to keep going because we know what this Premier League is like.”
In all there were six debutants on show here – three for each club.
One of those was Ashley Young, making his second start in a Villa shirt after returning from Inter Milan.
Young had also played for the Hornets in his early top-flight days and, after only 10 minutes, must have wondered if he had joined the wrong club.
For it was another of the new faces, Hornets striker Dennis who was on hand to fire Xisco’s men ahead.
Sarr was the architect, cutting in from the right and finding Dennis inside the box.
The Nigerian’s first effort was blocked, but he was first to the rebound, firing in low and hard underneath Emiliano Martinez.
Today was perfect because we met with our fans and they’re happy because of a very important
three points
The Hornets proceeded to run riot – thanks to their free-flowing African combo of Sarr and Dennis. The only surprise was the pair had not put the game totally out of sight by the interval.
Dennis was guilty of being too selfish in the 20th minute and then, on the half hour, of failing to continue his run into the danger area to tuck away Sarr’s wicked pinpoint cross.
But in the 42nd minute, the deadly duo linked up again to double Watford’s advantage. Dennis claimed the assist as he fed Sarr, who was fortunate to see his shot loop into the far corner, via a wicked deflection off Tyrone Mings.
Villa keeper Martinez was once more helpless – and it was the same on 67 minutes when Hernandez scored a sensational third for the Hornets.
On as a replacement for Dennis, the Colombian’s impact was instant. With his first touch, he cut inside his marker before curling in a 20-yard screamer.
Villa hit back through John McGinn after 70 minutes and a late injury-time penalty by Danny Ings, but they were no more than consolation strikes.