WATCH: Aston Villa's Jack Grealish scores winner after being attacked in derby with Birmingham City

The midfielder showed incredible character and maturity to earn a 1-0 derby win after being knocked to the ground by a member of the crowd, who had rushed onto the pitch early in the first half.

The incident occurred less than 10 minutes into the game when a spectator in a flat cap ran out of the home end after nine minutes and threw a punch at Grealish from behind.

He was led away by stewards and later arrested by West Midlands Police but only after being caught up in a melee of furious Villa players as Grealish was on the ground.

Grealish was uninjured but the incident cast a dark shadow over the derby and ignited fresh debate about player safety.

The Football Association will await the referees' report before taking action with the EFL condemning the violence. The man will never set foot inside St Andrew's again while Birmingham have issued an apology.

Scroll down for Grealish quotes, Birmingham's apology and more reaction from the world of football

Grealish recovered to score a 67th-minute winner and keep Villa's fading Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes alive, leaving them four points behind the top six.

He told Sky Sports Football after the game: "Best day of my life. To come here, captain Aston Villa and score the winner is what dreams are made of, especially for me as a Villa fan."

Regarding the incident with the spectator, he added: "I was just unaware at the time, I was walking into position and then just felt a whack around the side of the face. Obviously there's rivalry and stuff in football but I don't think there's any place for that really.

"I just tried to get on with my job. To score the winner was unbelievable, after what happened in the first half I think it was set up for it."

Team-mate Conor Hourihane added: "The banter between the fans and the singing is all good, there was a fantastic buzz out there, but to have antics like that in the game is absolutely disgusting.

"Full credit to this man next to me, he showed his class, got the winner and had the last laugh and it's a fantastic three points for us."

It was only Grealish's second game back from a long-term injury - he marked his return last week by scoring a stunning volley against Derby, while he also scored in November's 4-2 win over Blues at Villa Park.

"I've been thrown back in and I'm loving every minute," he said. "I hope I've given them all a lift, captaining the club is something I've been dreaming of doing since I was a young kid.

"To do that and obviously score twice in these games this season ... lovely."

Birmingham sit 11th, a point behind Villa after a second derby defeat this season.

There was little quality in a scrappy and frantic first half with St Andrew's stunned by what had happened to Grealish.

Birmingham began the second half well but failed to test Steer and Villa came close to breaking the deadlock when Grealish crossed for Andre Green but his goalbound header was blocked by Wes Harding after 65 minutes.

But two minutes later Grealish silenced St Andrew's when he collected Neil Taylor's pass to shoot across Camp and find the bottom corner from 16 yards.

Adams wanted a penalty soon after and Villa's Conor Hourihane hit the bar from the edge of the box with 13 minutes left.

Craig Gardner should have rescued a point with two minutes remaining but blazed over from eight yards before heading narrowly wide in injury time.

Scroll down for Birmingham's apology and more reaction from the world of football

Birmingham's apology

Club Statement: "Birmingham City Football Club would like to apologise to Jack Grealish and Aston Villa Football Club for an incident in this afternoon's derby match.

"We deplore the behaviour of the individual who committed this act and rest assured he will be banned from St. Andrew's for life. The Club will also support any further punishment this individual may face in the eyes of the law.

"The Club will be working with the relevant authorities to investigate all the circumstances and we will be reviewing our stadium safety procedures.

"What happened has no place in football or society. Jack is a Birmingham lad and regardless of club allegiance should not have been subjected to this - there are no excuses.

"Again, we apologise to Jack and all at Aston Villa Football Club."

Birmingham manager Garry Monk: "I didn't actually see the incident, I've been told afterwards. I think everyone in football realises that cannot happen on a football pitch.

"Of course we don't condone that - to the highest level possible - and we hope that the idiot that came onto the pitch and did that is punished severely and dealt with. But I've got to say, I've been here for a year and that one idiot does not represent what these fans value. These fans are fantastic.

"I hope Jack is okay, and we've obviously found out that he is."

Aston Villa reaction

Club statement: "Aston Villa Football Club is appalled by the disgraceful attack on Jack Grealish during today's game.

"A red line has been crossed by this cowardly on-field assault on a player, which is unprecedented in English football.

"We trust the perpetrator will feel the full force of the law and the authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding today's deplorable incident.

"Local rivalries are part of the fabric of the game however, as we are sure our friends at Birmingham City would agree, to have a player's personal safety placed under such jeopardy is a serious cause for concern for the entire football community."

Villa manager Dean Smith: "It shouldn't happen, the security should have been better," he told Sky Sports Football. "Hopefully the lad gets locked up and luckily Jack Grealish is okay.

"When you've got 15,000 other people there clapping him on, I'm all for a local rivalry but that's over-stepping the mark.

"We kick off on Sunday at 12 o'clock for a reason, to keep the people out of the pubs. Security's got to be ready for people coming on to the pitch but then some lunatic goes on trying to make a name for himself."

More reaction

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie believes Birmingham should be deducted points following the attack on Jack Grealish by a spectator during the Second City derby.

Hendrie, who was working on the game as a pundit for Sky Sports, said: "I'm all for the rivalry, I'm all for the banter, but that is literally the worst thing I've seen on a football pitch.

"Jack Grealish, one of the key players - what if he breaks his jaw and has to go off the pitch? That's one key player who is out of your side. If that would have happened, I think the game would have had to have been abandoned.

"A fan running on to the pitch and taking someone like Jack out, that could have been anything, there's knife crime... anything could have happened out there.

"They've got to make a benchmark here, because this is the first time this has happened. You don't see this in the English game.

"There's got to be a hefty fine, possibly a points deduction. There's got to be something put in place that's got to make a big statement to stop this happening again."

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville echoed those sentiments, tweeting: "The club are going have to take a huge punishment for this to act as a deterrent in the future . A Points deduction or Empty stadium for 10 games!"

Former Birmingham manager Gary Rowett called for the perpetrator to receive a lifetime ban from football.

"That person should never be allowed into another football match for the rest of his life, even back into society with that attitude," Rowett told Sky Sports Football.

Former Blues and Villa defender Liam Ridgewell, now with Hull, tweeted: "Can't believe it has got that bad, that a fan can run on the pitch and throw a punch. Disgraceful. Well done Jack Grealish for the way he handled it."

Grealish also received praise from former England striker Gary Lineker for "keeping his cool" during the incident which Lineker described on Twitter as "abhorrent."

An EFL spokesman condemned the "mindless actions of the individual who encroached on to the pitch at St Andrews on Sunday afternoon".

The statement continued: "It's a situation no player should ever be faced with.

"In all circumstances the playing surface is for players, not supporters and those playing in the game must be able to do so safe in the knowledge they will not be subjected to this type of behaviour.

"Whilst this incident falls within the remit of the Football Association, we will work with all the relevant parties to address the issue of player and match officials safety on the pitch and ensure the appropriate action is taken."

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