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.
