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Aston Villa logo
Premier League | Gameweek 28
Jun 17, 2020 at 6pm UK
Villa Park
Sheffield United logo

Aston Villa
0 - 0
Sheff Utd


Luiz (27')
FT

Lundstram (36')

Jack Grealish admits Aston Villa's Premier League return felt like a friendly

Jack Grealish admits Aston Villa's Premier League return felt like a friendly
© Reuters
Villa host Chelsea on Sunday after restarting the Premier League on Wednesday.

Skipper Jack Grealish admits Aston Villa's Premier League return felt like a friendly as they prepare to welcome Chelsea.

Villa host the Blues on Sunday, with games behind-closed-doors for the rest of the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Villa restarted the Premier League on Wednesday, drawing 0-0 with Sheffield United and missing the chance to escape the Premier League drop zone.

They earned a point after goal line technology failed when goalkeeper Orjan Nyland carried Oliver Norwood's free-kick over the line but referee Michael Oliver's watch did not register the goal.

But Grealish, who has been charged with driving without due care and attention and failing to stop at a scene of an accident after he broke lockdown rules in March, has found adapting to an empty stadium tough.

"People said it would be different once we got out there because you would know it is on TV and there are millions watching," he told Villa TV.

"It's weird. You do feel it is like a game behind closed doors, probably like a non-competitive game.

Aston Villa v Sheffield United – Premier League – Villa Park
Sheffield United were denied a goal after technology failed on Wednesday. (Paul Ellis/NMC Pool/PA)

"You try not to think like that because it is a competitive game and you are fighting for points.

"But it is hard, if I am honest. All we can do now is give our all to the end of the season and try to get results

"I love playing with fans and performing in front of fans and showing what I can do."

Chelsea loanee Danny Drinkwater, who missed Wednesday's draw through injury, cannot play against his parent club, while John McGinn will be assessed as he returns from a fractured ankle.

Bjorn Engels (Achilles) is out along with long-term knee injury victims Wesley and Tom Heaton.

Aston Villa v Sheffield United – Premier League – Villa Park
Aston Villa's Keinan Davis made his first Premier League start on Wednesday (Paul Ellis/NMC Pool/PA)

Keinan Davis could earn his second Premier League start after a full top-flight bow on Wednesday and boss Dean Smith feels the 22-year-old can help Villa survive.

"I thought his impact was really good but it was what I'd seen in the last four weeks of training and in the practice matches we'd had," he told a press conference.

"He's going to be a top player. He's a lad who has come through the academy and I've always said I've been a big fan of him and that the biggest problem is keeping him fit.

"He's had a few little niggles and injuries over the last 18 months, and he needed a long period without injury. This mini pre-season has been able to give him that."

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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


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