Aston Villa 4 Derby County 0 - Report and pictures

The 23-year-old, playing for the first time since December 7, sensationally volleyed home Glenn Whelan’s corner as the hosts blew away the Rams to record their biggest victory of the campaign.

Dean Smith’s men scord all four goals in the first-half, Conor Hourihane netting twice either side of Tammy Abraham’s 21st of the season.

Grealish then put the icing on the cake with his stunning effort as Villa won for just the third time in 15 Championship matches.

Analysis

Victory saw them move up to 11th in the table, now just six points off the play-off positions with 11 games still to play.

And though the task remains a tall one, the manner of this win fuelled belief they might yet be capable of the kind of run required to further close the deficit.

With Grealish back in the team and named as captain for the first time his career, Villa produced their best performance in months.

Back was the swagger which saw the scythe through the likes of Derby and Middlesbrough in November and early December, prior to Grealish suffering the bone stress injury which so frustratingly kept him out of action.

Abraham, Hourihane and Glenn Whelan all starred in what was a true team showing.

The only disappointment, from Smith’s perspective, was a serious-looking injury suffered by Tommy Elphick in the second half, the centre-back leaving the field on a stretcher.

Grealish’s return was one of two changes to the team which started the 1-1 draw at Stoke.

He replaced Jonathan Kodjia in the line-up, with Albert Adomah coming in for the injured Alan Hutton.

Jed Steer, meanwhile, kept his place in goal ahead of Lovre Kalinic, while Tom Carroll was fit enough for a place on the bench.

Derby boss Frank Lampard made six changes to the team beaten 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on Monday night.

Perhaps that explains in part why the Rams looked so disjointed from the first whistle though Villa, it goes without saying, were very good, playing some of their most fluent football for weeks, with Grealish in the middle of it looking like he had never been away.

Hourihane probably should have opened the scoring earlier but hit a left-footed volley, from Anwar El Ghazi’s cross, straight at Ashley Cole, the ball ballooning off the former England international and behind.

Derby keeper Scott Carson was also lucky to escape after coming for but failing to claim a Hourihane cross.

As it was the Republic of Ireland international put Villa ahead on nine minutes. Grealish was the creator, knocking a long ball over the top for Abraham to chase. The striker beat Carson to the ball but though the keeper got a touch as the Villa man looked to lift it goalwards, it ran straight to Hourihane who was left with the simple task of sending it into an empty net.

The home side were purring and Albert Adomah went close to extending the advantage when he curled over, after El Ghazi had seen an effort blocked.

It wasn’t until eight minutes before the break Villa would double their lead, though the quality of the goal was almost worth the wait.

Glenn Whelan started the move deep in his own half with a pass which found Hourihane in the middle of the park. From there the ball was played to Elmohamady, who raced down the right wing before sending in a low cross which Abraham, arriving at the far post, sent beyond Carson.

It was a goal which put Villa in command and they would add two more before the break to effectively end the game as a contest.

The first of those owed everything to Abraham, who showed strength to win an aerial challenge before powering toward the edge of the box, eventually laying off for Hourihane to net this second of the game.

Then, in the second minute of three added on, came Grealish’s moment. Derby were inches away from conceding a comical own goal when Fikayo Tomori’s clearance hit Andre Wisdom and smashed into the side-netting.

That would have denied Villa Park one the moments of this or any other season as Whelan lobbed the corner to the edge of the box and Grealish smashed an unstoppable first-time volley into the top corner.

It was an incredible goal, creating a buzz around the ground which did not dissipate through the 15-minute break.

The second half, somewhat inevitably, could not live up to the excitement of the first.

Instead it was marred by a serious-looking injury to Elphick. The centre-back immediately signalled for treatment after stretching for a misplaced pass and left the field on a stretcher.

Grealish exited soon after to a standing ovation, replaced by Carroll.

As Villa went searching for more in the closing stages, Derby were indebted to Carson for keeping the score down, with the keeper denying both Abraham and El Ghazi.

Key Moments

9 GOAL Conor Hourihane puts Villa in front, converting into an empty net after Tammy Abraham is denied by Scott Carson.

37 GOAL Tammy Abraham doubles Villa’s lead, slotting home Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross to finish a superb flowing move.

44 GOAL The day gets better for Villa as Hourihane adds a third, finishing past Carson after being played in by Abraham.

45+2 GOAL Jack Grealish caps an excellent performance with a goal of the season contender, volleying Glenn Whelan’s corner into the top corner.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Steer, Elmohamady, Elphick (Taylor 68), Mings, Hause, Whelan, Hourihane, Grealish (Carroll 70), Adomah, Abraham, El Ghazi (Green 80) Subs not used: Jedinak, Bjarnason, Kodjia, Kalinic (gk).

Derby (4-3-3): Carson, Wisdom, Keogh, Tomori, Cole (Malone HT), Holmes, Evans (Wilson HT), Bird, Jozefzoon, Marriott, Bennett (Bogle 55) Subs not used: Waghorn, Johnson, Mitchell-Lawson, Roos (gk).