Jack Grealish mocks Matt Targett’s free-kick attempt moments before he scored Aston Villa winner

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Jack Grealish produced his best performance of the season to help Aston Villa secure all three points against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

Jack Grealish has credited Matt Targett for scoring Aston Villa’s stoppage-time goal during their 2-1 win against Brighton on Saturday afternoon but did joke that he ‘didn’t produce’ five minutes beforehand.

In the 85th minute, Villa had a free-kick on the edge of the area, and with Conor Hourihane already substituted, Targett stepped up to take the kick, with Grealish summing up his strike by claiming it ‘went out of the stadium’.

It would have been a frustrating moment for Targett, who would go on to produce the goods deep into stoppage-time when Grealish fed him a lovely weighted ball and he smashed it into the back of the net.

After the game, Grealish, as posted on Villa’s official Twitter account, mocked Targett’s free-kick attempt but did praise him for picking himself up after a difficult start to life at Villa.

“He didn’t produce with the free-kick five minutes before,” Grealish told AVTV. “We got in a huddle and said, ‘who fancies it?’ Targett, he wanted it. I don’t know where it [the ball] went. I think it went out of the stadium.

“At least he got his left-foot on that one on the end and got us the winner. Of course [I am delighted for him], I know how hard he works. When he came here, it probably didn’t go the way he planned. He didn’t really start the first six or seven games. Since he came in he has been brilliant and long may it continue.”

Left-back Targett was one of Dean Smith’s 12 summer signings. He made a £15 million switch from Southampton [90 Min], and it is fair to say he struggled to earn regular game time.

He only made his Premier League debut for Villa against Burnley before the international break, with Neil Taylor previously starting the opening encounters.

But since then, he has proven that the left-back spot is now his because he isn’t only just showcasing a solid defence, he is also producing the goods in the attacking third.