Talisman marks red-letter day with superb goal

Hours after signing a new contract, Jack Grealish underlined his hero status at Aston Villa with a spectacular volley to swing the momentum of this League Cup tie.

Grealish had been a menace all evening against a League One club renowned for cup upsets and struck two minutes from time.

Villa competed in the final of this competition 198 days ago and Grealish’s wonderful goal finally ended the resistance of Burton Albion.

Dean Smith, the Villa head coach, said: “For him to commit his future is a big coup. It shows we are aiming to move in the right direction. He led the club back to the Premier League and kept them up. Now he wants to go a step further.”

Burton have embarrassed Premier League opposition in recent years, accounting for Bournemouth and Burnley, while they also knocked out Villa in the 2017-18 season.

The Brewers threatened another upset when they took the lead after just 66 seconds with left-back Colin Daniel finishing at the far post.

Playing their first game of the season, Villa did improve and it was their record £28 million signing, Ollie Watkins, who drew them level. Grealish’s clever flick released Neil Taylor in the area and the Wales international’s low cross presented Watkins with a simple finish.

Villa dominated the second half but Burton’s defending was desperate and, at times, brilliant.

With penalties looming, Grealish settled the tie two minutes from time. Keinan Davis added a third to secure a third-round tie against either Bristol City or Northampton.

Burton Albion (4-4-2) Sharman-lowe 6; Fox 7, Brayford 7, Bostwick 6 (Gallacher 26), Daniel 6; Edwards 6 (Gilligan 66), Quinn 7, Wallace 6, Lawless 6 (Powell 66); Akins 6, Hemmings 5. Subs Garratt (g), Anderson, Hewlett, Williams. Booked Akins, Quinn.

Aston Villa (4-3-3) Nyland 6; Elmohamady 6, Mings 7, Hause 6, Taylor 7; Lansbury 5, Nakamba 5, Ramsey 6 (Douglas Luiz 71); El Ghazi 4 (Jota 80), Watkins 7 (Davis 71), Grealish 8. Subs Steer (g), Konsa, Samatta, Guilbert. Booked Ramsey.

Referee Oliver Langford (West Midlands).