In a game that promised so much, it certainly delivered. Aston Villa will be playing Premier League football next season after beating Derby County 2-1 at Wembley.
The game started off nervously, both sides lacking any attacking threat. Perhaps rightly so, as defensive stability is needed in matches of these magnitude. Half-time seemed to be approaching with the sides level but Anwar El Ghazi had other ideas, scoring the opening goal of the game and giving Villa the lead. Once again, Derby's vulnerability from crosses was exposed again.
Aston Villa definitely deserved to win the match - they were the better team on the day. What Derby didn't deserve, though, was to concede a second goal in such an embarrassing manner. A deflected cross came in which Kelle Roos did not claim and John McGinn was stronger than Roos, doubling Villa's lead. It seemed like one of those play-off days again for Derby.
Frank Lampard didn't sit back and brought on two strikers to change the game. Martyn Waghorn and Jack Marriott, who I think deserved to start the game, were key in Derby scoring. They were key in putting Derby into the ascendancy and Derby pulled one back as Mariott's shot hit off Waghorn's toe and in the corner.
Derby rarely threatened throughout the match until Waghorn and Marriott came on. The Rams could not break Villa down and suffered because of the lack of creativity, despite having players like Mount and Wilson on the pitch. Villa played like a team determined to avenge last year's heartache, pressing intensely on every Derby player.
I predicted Villa to win and they did.
For Villa, they will play in the Premier league for the first time in 3 years but it's more devastation for Derby. It makes you wonder at whether a 'Leeds' should be renamed a 'Derby', given their misfortune in the play-offs.
The game started off nervously, both sides lacking any attacking threat. Perhaps rightly so, as defensive stability is needed in matches of these magnitude. Half-time seemed to be approaching with the sides level but Anwar El Ghazi had other ideas, scoring the opening goal of the game and giving Villa the lead. Once again, Derby's vulnerability from crosses was exposed again.
Aston Villa definitely deserved to win the match - they were the better team on the day. What Derby didn't deserve, though, was to concede a second goal in such an embarrassing manner. A deflected cross came in which Kelle Roos did not claim and John McGinn was stronger than Roos, doubling Villa's lead. It seemed like one of those play-off days again for Derby.
Frank Lampard didn't sit back and brought on two strikers to change the game. Martyn Waghorn and Jack Marriott, who I think deserved to start the game, were key in Derby scoring. They were key in putting Derby into the ascendancy and Derby pulled one back as Mariott's shot hit off Waghorn's toe and in the corner.
Derby rarely threatened throughout the match until Waghorn and Marriott came on. The Rams could not break Villa down and suffered because of the lack of creativity, despite having players like Mount and Wilson on the pitch. Villa played like a team determined to avenge last year's heartache, pressing intensely on every Derby player.
I predicted Villa to win and they did.
For Villa, they will play in the Premier league for the first time in 3 years but it's more devastation for Derby. It makes you wonder at whether a 'Leeds' should be renamed a 'Derby', given their misfortune in the play-offs.
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