Jack Grealish proved to be the difference maker against Cardiff City.
Aston Villa picked up a win that could change the entire course of their season on Tuesday night when they defeated Cardiff City in a vital Championship showdown.
It was a tight and tense affair for most of the encounter until Jack Grealish popped up with the winner five minutes from time. It wasn’t the prettiest of games and Villa were certainly on the back foot, but the three points are all that’ll matter to Steve Bruce – and rightly so.
Something that many picked up on, however, is that Jack Grealish was largely ineffective throughout the course of the 90 minutes. That’s not through lack of trying, either, as he was one of the main players trying to get something going for his side from the first whistle until the last.
Alas, teams in the Championship are already fully aware of just how good he is, and they’re setting up to neutralise that effectiveness. Grealish was fouled on five different occasions at Villa Park and was clearly boxed in by the visitors, which is something you’d expect to see against someone of his calibre in the second tier.
To say it was frustrating for Villa supporters would be an understatement, but thankfully, the youngster persevered and was able to come away with the winning goal courtesy of a wonderful strike.
While Grealish’s work on the ball in the middle of the park is exemplary, the fact that he can produce one moment of magic from out of nowhere makes him even more of a valuable asset. When Villa have their back against the wall, Grealish can be relied upon above everyone else to come up with that ‘impact’ moment that completely changes the course of the game.
Whether that extends to the Premier League if they gain promotion is a different story, but for now, they’ll aim to continue their push for the top two when they host Leeds United this Friday.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
