MX23RW : Thursday, May 16 23:37:12| >> :60:1600:1600:
[monks data]
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."

ID:403037: cacheID:403037:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7518:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Joe Gomez in action with Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the FA Cup on January 5, 2020
Read Next:
SM Football Shorts: Premier League gameweek 30 predictions
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37277393336088
2Arsenal37275589286186
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs371961271611063
6Chelsea371791175621360
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle371761481602157
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd37176145558-357
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton371212135560-548
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


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!