The price Jack Grealish pays for his talent comes with the close attention he is shown by opposition players every week. He is by far the most fouled player in the Championship despite missing three months through injury.
On his debut at St Andrew’s however, the cost of his quality reached an unacceptable, utterly disgraceful level.
The victim of a vicious, pathetic assault from a supposed Birmingham fan inside 10 minutes, it really was a remarkable expression of character that Grealish stayed calm, continued to play his game, and scored the only goal to win the argument with his feet.
That it earned a victory to keep Aston Villa in touch with the play-offs while also inflicting a heavy blow on Birmingham’s faint promotion hopes only emphasised how beauty had triumphed over brainlessness.
The 128th meeting between these city rivals will forever be remembered as Grealish’s game and he revelled in the moment at full-time, striding onto the pitch having been substituted to bear-hug each of his team-mates. Manager Dean Smith punched the air as Villa’s fans sung his name.
The game between these two at Villa Park had begun in fiery fashion when Maikel Kieftenbeld levelled Grealish after some 30 seconds but escaped a yellow card. Smith expected the same early physicality again and called for this referee to act accordingly whatever the time on the clock.
Smith was proved right inside three minutes with Kieftenbeld again launching into an appalling challenge on Grealish in the centre-circle. The Birmingham midfielder did not seem to care about the ball, simply putting in a marker. He angrily told Grealish to get up as Villa players ran to referee Tim Robinson. Robinson issued the booking and it is plausible the passage played a part in the shocking scenes that followed seven minutes later.
On his first appearance at this ground Grealish’s name was booed with vigour when read out before kick-off and Kieftenbeld’s actions whipped up the atmosphere even more.
There is nothing wrong with venom in the stands, of course. That is what derby games are all about. Unsettling an opposition player, particularly one as gifted as Grealish, through words is part of football. But when it becomes physical that is a different matter.
Last season Birmingham fans pelted Villa players with clappers. Not the most deadly of missiles but it was the thin end of the wedge. Perhaps emboldened by Birmingham escaping FA sanction on that count, one utterly moronic fan went to a whole new level of abuse here.
The speed with which he ran from the Tilton End to swing a ferocious punch at Grealish – from behind – showed a frightening level of vengeful determination. It was a grotesque act of cowardice to send Grealish to the floor.
Glenn Whelan, Tammy Abraham, and Conor Hourihane surrounded the idiot, who was wearing a flat cap and presumably fancied himself as a Peaky Blinder wannabe. He was quickly apprehended by a steward, and marched from the pitch but compounded his act by celebrating with each step. A vocal number of fans still in the stands applauded him off in truly embarrassing scenes.
Grealish said some choice words in response. He watched the game here in 2002 when Peter Enckelman was slapped by a pitch invader and had cause to say his piece.
The match took on a weird tempo from that point, each team seeming in a bit of a fog. Grealish played a super pass to free Anwar El Ghazi but Lee Camp was out quickly to save, and Tammy Abraham missed with a near post effort.
For Birmingham Che Adams went close with a shot that whistled just wide.
At the break John Terry was first over to console Grealish and Smith also spoke words of encouragement. More fury came from the Birmingham supporters by the tunnel, who stupidly sung, ‘One punch and it knocked him out.’
So Grealish had every right to milk the celebration for his goal as he did. Coming in the 67th minute, John McGinn fed Neil Taylor who passed on to Grealish. He wriggled into space and hit a low shot that did not have much pace but just the right accuracy to defeat Camp’s dive.
Grealish ran to the Villa supporters behind the goal, leapt the hoardings and submerged himself in the adulation. His team-mates followed as claret plumes from smoke bombs rose into the air. Once back on the pitch he stood arms spread wide, a picture of defiance. Well worth the inevitable caution from Robinson.
Birmingham wanted a penalty soon after when Adams fell under a challenge from Kortney Hause but Robinson was unmoved.
Craig Gardner, once of Villa, could have equalised for Birmingham twice in the closing stages. He blasted over from six yards, then headed wide from a corner in stoppage time. Villa saw the rest of the match out without any further incident. Thankfully.