Behind Grealish and Romeu's tunnel spat as tempers flared after Man City win

Jack Grealish confronted rival Oriol Romeu in the tunnel because the Southampton player kept pinching him.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted that Manchester City 's £100million man "had a conversation" with the midfielder after the game following their on-pitch spat in the 1-1 draw at St Mary's on Saturday.

The dirty tricks started right from kick off with Romeu setting out to antagonise Grealish by repeatedly pinching and twisting his skin and trying to spin him off balance.

Grealish was also on the receiving end of a bad tackle from Jan Bednarek, for which the Pole was booked, and Romeu, 30, leant in to have some words while Grealish was on the ground.

The ex-Aston Villa captain, 26, who has been the most fouled player in the Premier League in the past two seasons, got to his feet and pushed Romeu in frustration as several team-mates of each side got involved in the flashpoint.

Hasenhuttl later revealed that Grealish "waited in the tunnel" to chat with Romeu after the full-time whistle.

Grealish has been cautioned just once this season and Hasenhuttl claimed: "They had a conversation and everything is good."

Grealish arrived at the Premier League champions in a record summer move from Villa and has two goals and two assists in 16 league appearances.

City boss Pep Guardiola played him upfront down the middle on the South Coast and claimed it was Grealish's most impressive display yet for them.

Guardiola said: "It is the best game he has played since he has been with us, by far. This was an exceptional performance. He played really well."

This term Grealish is no longer the most fouled player in the top-flight and is being fouled on average 2.7 times a match compared to 4.5 times a match last term.

He is averaging less touches compared to last season with 61 a game compared to 65.2.

But he is having 7.9 of them in the opponent's box up from 6.9 last term.

The renown dribbler is also carrying the ball a similar distance per game at 292m compared to 290m last season.

But the difference being his carry progress is less this year at 134m a game compared to 161m last term under Dean Smith.

It reflects opponents like Southampton adopting a low block to stifle City's attacking talents.

It has made it a challenge for Grealish to adjust instantly to life at City, where Guardiola is always encouraging him to pass and he now averages 43.9 passes a game, up from 41 with Villa.

Grealish assessed recently: "I've found it a lot more difficult than I thought I would, adapting to a different manager and teammates.

"At first I thought I'd have more of the ball, get more assists and goals but it doesn't work like that at all."