Anwar El Ghazi headbutt on Tyrone Mings: Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish dismisses clash as just 'handbags'

Clash: Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings
Action Images via Reuters
Alex Young @alexwsyoung17 September 2019

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish has played down Anwar El Ghazi attempting to headbutt team-mate Tyrone Mings, describing the mid-match incident as "handbags" and soon "put to bed."

During the first half of Monday's 0-0 draw with West Ham, Mings and El Ghazi clashed angrily inside their own penalty area, with the latter clearly pushing his head into his team-mate's.

El Ghazi could have been sent off but, with referee Mike Dean receiving instruction from the video assistant referee, escaped a red card.

Grealish told Sky Sports: "It's all handbags. When you're out there, heat of the moment.

"As soon as we got into half-time, it was all put to bed. Shake hands. We all said that can't be happening out on the pitch."

Villa boss Dean Smith added to reporters: "I didn't need to deal with it, the players dealt with it.

"It was dealt with by the players in the dressing room and I'm happy for that to happen, that's the spirit in the dressing room.

"Things happen in team sport in the heat of the moment and it was sorted very quickly. At half-time they spoke about it, shook hands and we move on."

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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