There was a big, bearded ‘Rhodes block’ inside Villa Park today as Aston Villa’s midfield enforcer Mile Jedinak slotted into a two-man central defensive partnership alongside skipper James Chester.

The clean sheet says it all to be honest.

The Jedi was assured as you like in there, marshalling the much talked about Jordan Rhodes.

Following Nathan Baker’s 25th-minute injury, Steve Bruce opted to bring on Alan Hutton as opposed for a like-for-like in either Tommy Elphick or Micah Richards.

And it proved to be a masterstroke.

Alan Hutton and Jodan Amavi gave protection to both James Bree and Neil Taylor to nullify Wednesday’s wing threat, with Hutton and Bree then swapping roles.

My immediate reaction to Jedinak going to centre-half was it mirrored the famous Stevie Gerrard quarter-back role under Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool.

He slotted in nicely; won headers for fun and barked orders out to keep the midfield in check.

Jedinak likes to have all of the play in front of him anyway. He’s comfortable on the ball and looked to pick passes out wide for Amavi and Albert Adomah.

One lapse in concentration did come after 36 minutes when Sam Winnall peeled off the Aussie inside the box before the ball made its way to Wallace who fizzed over.

Rhodes only got the better of him on just the one occasion, with Jedinak allowing the ball to bounce before the Wednesday front man fired a half-volley over from the edge of the box.

Jedinak moved back into midfield late on when Elphick replaced Adomah.

But, all in all, Jedinak’s hour-or-so showing at centre-half was a good one.

There wasn’t much pace up front for Wednesday which of course helped. But this is definitely food for thought for Bruce following Baker’s first-half injury.

After all, Jedinak’s experienced as they come and an old head on old shoulders which is something Villa perhaps lack defensively.