Manchester City got back to winning ways tonight in the Premier League against Aston Villa – and Ally McCoist gave flowers to a player who’s had a tricky time lately.
Pep Guardiola‘s side needed to respond after only managing to draw with Arsenal on Sunday. And with the Gunners beating Luton Town tonight, it was even more paramount to win.
City put in a fantastic display at the Etihad, winning 4-1 with the ‘magic’ Phil Foden scoring a hat-trick, and Rodri also scoring.
Villa did get level in the first-half, but City went back in front just before half-time and then blew the visitors away in the second.
All the talk tonight and tomorrow will be about Foden following his majestic display.
But McCoist ensured to give Jack Grealish a positive word for his display against his former side…
Ally McCoist says Jack Grealish had ‘a good evening’ for Manchester City against Aston Villa
Grealish started for City tonight, having come on as a substitute against Arsenal at the weekend.
He was fresh, and Guardiola clearly felt this was a game for him – and it was a very positive display from the £100 million man.
And it was a performance that he needed. Because this has been a frustrating campaign for Grealish, with the 28-year-old being hampered by injuries.
Against Villa tonight, he did play in his usual manner, but linked up very well with the likes of Bernardo Silva and Josko Gvardiol on the left side.
There were still times when it looked as though he could have got a shot away. But Grealish was good, and hopefully, he will now be able to build on his display.
Speaking towards the end of the game, Ally McCoist said on TNT Sports: “I think it’s worth mentioning, it’s been a good evening for Jack Grealish. And you know something, I think he needed it. Just for himself, for his own confidence coming back. He’s been a little bit injured in the last few weeks or so.”
McCoist did express his concerns about Grealish’s fitness recently and how it could affect him with England.
Grealish must now build on performance vs Villa
This was a very good display from Grealish, who must now seek to build on the performance going forward.
It hasn’t really happened for him so far this season because of injuries, but he can have a big say for City at the business end of the season.
He was brilliant last term as City won the Treble, and he must try and get back to the levels he showed a year ago.
There is added motivation for him because he needs to secure his seat on the plane this summer for England, and hopefully we can now see some consistently high performances from the star.