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Aston Villa’s star man made a return to action for the first time in 89 days as they held Carlo Ancelotti’s side to a 0-0 draw, Jack Grealish’s 20 minute cameo role was the brightest moment after a gloomy evening in B6.
Having not graced the soil of Villa Park since February the 13th, the 25-year-old marked his return to action, providing Villa fans with some form of refreshment as we prepare for the business end of the season. With Dean Smith’s side picking up only three wins during the time Grealish was side-lined, his return from injury will lift the mood around the camp at Bodymoor Heath.
One sight fans of the Premier League will have missed is the vast number of opposition players it takes in order to dispossess the Birmingham born man; it took just a matter of minutes until we saw that sight. Four Everton shirts hunted the talisman who effortlessly carried the ball 30 yards.
Even with an empty stadium, the announcer cheerfully called Grealish’s name when he came onto the pitch. With fans set to grace the terraces of Villa Park in ten days against Chelsea, the captain will be hoping he can stay fit to start the final match of what has been a memorable season for the Villans.
Despite missing nearly a third of the season, Grealish has the fourth most assists in the league (Ten) tied with Spurs’ Son Heung-Ming. Only Harry Kane, Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne have more than the Englishman – Proving that the captain should be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s next squad for the European Championships.
England’s next squad for the upcoming Euro’s is just a few weeks away, the 25-year-old will be hoping that he can stay injury free and make a good impression on Southgate in the final three league matches.
In a game that was declared turgid and drab, there only few notable chances for either side. For Everton, this came through Dominic Calvert-Lewin who forced Villa’s Emi Martinez into a fine stop from close range. The Argentine palmed the ball away to safety, like he’s done many times so far this campaign.
The former Gooner has proved to himself to be the signing of the season, equalling Brad Freidel’s clean sheet record of 15 for the Villans – A drastic improvement from last years tally of seven.
⛔ Emiliano Martinez has kept his 15th league clean sheet this season, equalling Brad Friedel’s club record of most clean sheets in a single PL campaign by an Aston Villa goalkeeper (15 in 2009-10) #AVLEVE pic.twitter.com/X2tAD6ahIW
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 13, 2021
Tyrone Mings came closest for the Lions, narrowly missing the target from just six yards out. The England international soldiered on for the full match, despite taking a few knocks when Calvert-Lewin trod on his heel as well as colliding with Martinez when blocking Richarlison’s lethal cross. One thing you get with the 28-year-old is his desire and passion, every club needs one and Villa have that in Mings whose voice booms around the empty stands of Villa Park.
WHAT. A. CHANCE
Tyrone Mings heads wide from six yards out
? Watch on Sky Sports PL
? Follow #AVLEVE here: https://t.co/k2x2I6jBoW
? Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/txF2FJEdtI— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 13, 2021
Although Mings was lucky not to see red for his challenge on Everton’s number nine, with the decision going to VAR, it was decided that the defender would remain on the pitch.
Picking up a point against the Toffees, Smith’s side have their best points return in the top-flight for eleven years.
Meanwhile for Ancelotti and co, they’ll travel back to Merseyside with a dent in their European ambitions. With their rivals Liverpool winning at Old Trafford, Everton will need to go into their final three games with the desire to qualify for the Europa League for the first time since 2017.
The Toffees have now picked up 37 points away from home all season however, the Blues have failed to make Goodison Park a fortress – picking up 19 points on home turf. Something that Ancelotti will hope to improve going into next season.
Aston Villa will travel to South London on the 16th of May as they pay visit to Crystal Palace who sit in eleventh place, Smith will be hoping his side can pick up a positive result on the road that’ll bring their points tally to over 50 for the campaign.
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