MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 02:15:27| >> :120:19341:19341:

We're over Jack Grealish - Aston Villa boss Dean Smith

We're over Jack Grealish - Aston Villa boss Dean Smith
© Reuters
Villa started life after Jack Grealish with a 3-2 defeat at Watford.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith insists the club are over Jack Grealish's departure to Manchester City.

Smith's side started life after Grealish with a 3-2 defeat at Watford on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Villa had to wait until the 70th minute for their first shot on target and looked short of creativity.

But Smith said: "We're over Jack. He's not here anymore, he's not our player.

"The players who are here are fully aware that we've moved on from that already.

"(The) fans have had to move on as well because he's not our player."

Ismaila Sarr starred for Watford on their return to the top tier, setting up debutant Emmanuel Dennis' opener before scoring the second.

Cucho Hernandez made it 3-0 moments after coming on for his first appearance before Villa rallied late on, with John McGinn pulling one back and Danny Ings scoring from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time.

Sarr caused problems for Villa's defence throughout the game, and his runs down the right had forced Smith into an early half-time substitution after he had got the better of defender Matt Targett on a number of occasions.

The Villa boss made his displeasure clear to his players at the interval but they were unable to find a way back into the match.

"The first half they were miles off it from where we've been and I told them that in no uncertain terms at half-time," Smith said.

"You can't come and expect to play casual and it was almost like a friendly international at times. You have to go and play with intensity.

"We came here to win a football game and we didn't do enough to win a football game and we helped Watford on their way, especially in the first half."

Watford boss Xisco Munoz was pleased to see positive contributions from his first XI and the substitutes.

He said: "This is perfect for me. We have a very good squad and we need to understand and we need to work with the team spirit and to have everyone with the same values, because sometimes you need one player and at the end of the game you need another player.

"Today is a very good example, it's not only those who start, but those who came off the bench also gave a very good level and this is important, when the team understand everyone is important in our squad."

ID:459555:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3709:
Written by
P A

Click here for more stories about Dean Smith

Click here for more stories about Aston Villa

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Watford head coach Xisco Munoz pictured on July 24,2021
Read Next:
Xisco Munoz praises Watford as they hold off Aston Villa fightback to edge win
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!