let the celebrations begin!

 

 

 

aston villa 1 v manchester city 2 - yours is no disgrace

 

The night is cold, but outside the stadium the temperature begins to rise for the return of Jack Grealish to Villa Park. As the queues lengthen for carbohydrate-rich fast-food the entertainment is provided by an enthusiastic brass band and a Peter Crouch look-alike juggling a set of Indian clubs.

 

The teams are announced and Jack is named on the Manchester City bench. His arrival is greeted by a mixture of boos and polite applause from the home crowd. Not quite the home-coming of a super-hero. 

 

And so to the football. City dominate the opening exchanges, seemingly picking apart the Villa defence at will. It comes as little surprise when Ruben Diaz rifles in a long-range shot for the opening goal. Villa remain on the back-foot. There are a few tentative forays forward but once again the defence is shredded when a lightening quick counter-attack sees Bernando Silva volley into the back of the net.

 

The second half is much, much better. Villa are on the score-board early when Ollie Watkins, back to his old form, meets a Douglas Luiz corner with a crisp shot which rifles into the corner of the goal. Two-one and the game is on. Villa continue to press. Towards the end they even have the chance to equalise, but a fine save from Ederson denies Carney Chukwuemeka.

 

Given the Abu Dhabi owners of City have spent in excess of £30bn (and in doing so incurred the wrath of both UEFA and the Premier League in relation to Financial Fair Play rules ) it seems difficult to compete. But Villa tried valiantly - another promising sign for life under Steven Gerrard.