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30

2019 Villa’s Victory Over Derby

29th,

May

| Books Spot In Premier League
EXAMINER rooks Koepka survived an give them control of a pulsating first time since relegation in a 12th successive campaign in which began deep in Villa terri-

encounter.
Aston Villa ended their
tory.
the second tier.
2016.
substitute
Rams
Derby, meanwhile, suffered
After being released by cap-
Lampard’s disappointment
Jack
IRISH Bthree-year Premier League Marriott set up a tense finish by further late-season despair, los- contrasted with the jubilation tain Grealish, Conor
exile after goals from Anwar El
Ghazi and John McGinn secured a
Hourihane sprayed the ball
ing in the play-offs for the
experienced by his former
halving the deficit nine minutes
deserved 2-1 win over Derby at from time but Villa dug in to fourth time in six seasons. Chelsea and England team- wide to Albert Adomah. He
Wembley. hold on. Frank Lampard’s men, who mate John Terry, who was in laid the ball back for Ahmed
A year after suffering Sky Bet Victory for Dean Smith’s impressively came back to the opposing dugout in his role Elmohamady to deliver a pin-
Championship play-off final side in the most lucrative game knock out Leeds in the semi- as Villa assistant boss. point cross which replays
heartbreak at the hands of in world football will pocket the finals, struggled to create for Villa had lost each of their showed El Ghazi scruffily
Fulham, Villa made amends as West Midlands club a mini- much of the game and could last four Wembley finals, dating turned into the bottom left cor-
El Ghazi and McGinn headed mum £170million and returns have few complaints about a back to the 2000 FA Cup final ner with his back after arriving
home either side of half-time to them to the top flight for the result which condemns them to which was the last one to be ahead of Jayden Bogle.
played at the old stadium. With Scott Malone suspend-
After winning both league ed and Duane Holmes injured,
games between the sides by an Lampard had turned to experi-
aggregate score of 7-0, they ence to plug the gaps, selecting
were firm favorites going into former England internationals
the game. Ashley Cole and Tom
Villa boss Smith said his Huddlestone.
players could make themselves His side needed to respond
“icons” with glory at the nation- but, after a fractious beginning
al stadium and his side began to the second period, they fell
on the front foot and edged a further behind.
cagey opening period devoid of El Ghazi’s attempted cross
clear chances. was deflected into the air and
Jack Grealish lashed over McGinn nipped in and capital-
from the edge of the box early ized on Roos’ fumble to nod
on following a poor clearance home in front of the jubilant
from Derby goalkeeper Roos, Villa supporters.
while Tammy Abraham later With little to lose, Lampard
showed a glimpse of his class threw on attacking duo
before side-footing off target. Marriott and Martyn Waghorn
Derby’s last play-off final in the hope of forcing extra-
ended in an agonizing 1-0 loss time.
to QPR in 2014. Marriott, who had been the
They eventually mustered a semi-final hero at Elland Road,
meaningful attempt eight min- gave the Rams a lifeline with a
utes before the break, although neat finish on the turn after
Mason Mount’s drive was Bogle nodded down inside the
straight at Jed Steer. box.
The contest was in desperate But, despite seven minutes
need of a spark and it duly of added time, Derby were
arrived a minute before the unable to force an equalizer
break with a sweeping move during a frenetic finish. C