On the face of it, Aston Villa's win over Bristol City on Saturday wasn't too much of a surprise given Dean Smith's side were at home and went into the game on the back of seven straight wins.

However, the fans and players will recognise just how important that win was - because they did it without Jack Grealish.

It wouldn't be fair to say that Villa are a one-man team as there is a lot of quality in the squad, but the stats outline how influential the academy graduate is to the team.

Injury kept Grealish out for 13 Championship games from mid-December through to March and in that time Villa managed to win just twice, picking up 13 points. That's almost relegation form.

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Yet, his return to the XI proved to be the spark that Villa needed to get their season back on track and they won the next seven games on the bounce with the creative midfielder pulling the strings.

Therefore, when the team was announced on Saturday afternoon against the Robins and there was no Grealish, along with the excellent Tyrone Mings, the reaction of supporters was the same - just how will they cope?

So, the manner of the victory against Lee Johnson's side will have delighted everyone connected to the club.

Even though the 2-1 scoreline suggests a close game, the reality is that Villa were dominant and relentless, with a masterclass from Max O'Leary in goal keeping the visitors in with a chance.

To do that against a play-off rival without Grealish shows just how far the team have come in the space of a few months and will be a huge relief mentally for the players.

The 23-year-old is expected to be back against Bolton on Friday and obviously that is a huge boost as his ability is unquestionable.

But, should Villa lose their star man at any other point before the season ends, there will be a belief that they can still win without their talisman and that could be vital as we approach the crucial part of the campaign.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.