Jack Grealish was wrongly booked for simulation during Aston Villa’s defeat to Crystal Palace over the weekend.
Dean Smith has defended Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and played down any thought that he seemingly has a ‘reputation’ of going down to easily or for diving.
Over the weekend, Grealish was wrongly booked by referee Kevin Friend for simulation, with that error costing Villa a late goal against Crystal Palace and a valuable point.
During his career so far, Grealish has never been booked for diving, only until Saturday’s clash at Selhurst Park, which was proven to be incorrect by the officials.
Speaking to Sky Sports News (31/08/2019 at 5:40 pm), Smith clearly wasn’t happy with his team being denied a point at the death against Palace.
On Grealish’s reputation going before him: “I don’t think so,” Smith told Sky Sports News. “Reputation for what? He’s the most fouled player in the league already.
“He was the most fouled player in the Championship season. So, there’s not a reputation from Jack Grealish. He made a great run and laid it off for Henri Lansbury. We should be going away with a point.”
VAR was not able to overturn Friend’s decision because as Grealish laid the ball off for Lansbury to strike into the back of the net, the referee had blown his whistle.
In the end, Palace walked away with all three points and Villa have suffered another mini set-back, as the team’s now prepare for the international break.
Upon their return from the international break, Villa will host West Ham United on home soil, with the Hammers picking up some form in recent weeks.
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