Aston Villa 2-1 Derby County: Dean Smith’s side secure Premier League place with play-off final win at Wembley

Aston Villa 2-1 Derby County: Dean Smith’s side secure Premier League place with play-off final win at Wembley
Aston Villa survived a late scare against Derby County to win the Championship play-off final 2-1 at Wembley.Goals either side of half-time from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn looked to give Dean Smith’s side a comfortable win.Jack Marriott’s strike in the 81st minute, which was deflected by Martyn Waghorn, got a goal back but it was not enough to take them to extra-time.Getty3

Anwar El Ghazi celebrates his goal at Wembley

Villa dominated the first half and took a deserved lead a minute before the interval.Ahmed Elmohamady crossed from the right and Anwar El Ghazi stooped at the far post to head into the net.Villa doubled their lead in the 59th minute through John McGinn.El Ghazi’s shot was deflected high into the air and Derby keeper Kelle Roos made a mess of the catch, allowing McGinn to divert the ball into the net.Getty3

John McGinn scores Aston Villa’s second

Derby gave themselves hope with nine minutes remaining through substitute Waghorn.Jayden Bogle headed a loose ball across goal and Jack Marriott was on hand to lash it past Jed Steer, with the help of a Waghorn deflection, and make it 2-1 to Villa.Victory for Dean Smith’s side in the most lucrative game in world football will pocket the West Midlands club a minimum 170million and returns them to the top flight for the first time since relegation in 2016.Getty3

Jack Marriott’s shot is deflected in by Martyn Waghorn in the Championship play-off final

Derby, meanwhile, suffered further late-season despair, losing in the play-offs for the fourth time in six seasons.Frank Lampard’s men, who impressively came back to knock out Leeds in the semi-finals, struggled to create for much of the game and could have few complaints about a result which condemns them to a 12th successive campaign in the second tier. Lampard’s disappointment contrasted with the jubilation experienced by his former Chelsea and England team-mate John Terry, who was in the opposing dugout in his role as Villa assistant boss.

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