Aston Villa vs Derby: Villains survive nervy finale to edge Derby in Championship play-off final and clinch promotion to Premier League
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow live action from the Championship play-off final at Wembley as Aston Villa and Derby chase a golden opportunity to achieve promotion to the Premier League.
After a tense start, Anwar El Ghazi gave Villa the lead with a diving header on the stroke of half-time, courtesy of a fine cross from Ahemd Elmohamady. John McGinn then doubled Dean Smith’s side’s lead, outleaping Derby keeper Kelle Roos to put Villa firmly on course for victory.
But Martyn Waghorn sparked a Rams’ fightback, diverting Jack Marriot’s shot into the bottom corner with just under ten minutes to play. Yet despite a nerve-riddled finale, Villa held on to clinch promotion to the Premier League.
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Aston Villa 1-0 Derby
Things get a bit feisty as both sets of players get a bit excited after the latest foul on Grealish. Bennett and Hourihane were both cautioned shortly before for standard fouls.
Aston Villa 1-0 Derby
Another yellow. Tomori is the latest into the referee's book after a late foul on McGinn.
The coaches need to get a grip and tell their players to calm down.
Aston Villa 1-0 Derby
55: Villa are likely to be happiest with the first 10 minutes of this half. It's been a scrappy affair with very little flow or quality on show, which has prevented Derby from stringing together any promising attacking move.
Aston Villa 2-0 Derby
McGinn score and Villa are in complete control!
It's a howler from Roos, the Derby goalkeeper, and Aston Villa will take some catching now.
A deflected shot fires the ball high into the air and Roos tried to jump and collect it in his arms but is beaten to it by McGinn's head.
McGinn did not have to rise especially high, but did enough to convert into a vacant net.
Aston Villa 2-0 Derby
62: Lampard reacts by bringing Marriott on for Huddlestone
Aston Villa 2-0 Derby
65: Aston Villa are still having it their way as Grealish drags a shot just wide from range. Derby need something special to happen here if they are going to turn it around.
Aston Villa 2-0 Derby
Marriott and Waghorn were always going to have some kind of say in this game and now they're both on after Waghorn replaces Bennett.
Aston Villa 2-0 Derby
70: SQUARE THAT!
Bogle collects a fine pass from Mount, touches the ball inside El Ghazi, ignores his teammates in the centre and like a true defender goes for goal himself from a tight angle. The effort goes wide and Waghorn, who was one of two free teammates, gives him an earful.
Villa make their first change and Adomah is replaced by Green.
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