The Lion Wakes Up – Villa Are Back In The Premier League – Match Stats

After an eventful summer, to say the least, Aston Villa thankfully ended up with more highs than lows in the Championship campaign of 2018/19, and once new head coach Dean Smith finally got his boots under the table and was able to select a far more balanced side – history will note our history record winning streak, and it was enough to put us into the Play-Offs.

Victory over West Bromwich Albion booked our place in the Wembley showpiece Final and today was the day we looked to go one better than last year and return to the top flight, upsetting Frank Lampard and Derby County along the way.

Villa better dominated the first half, although Derby had their chances and moments on top but it felt there for the taking and Anwar El Ghazi opened that possibility up with a diving header one minute before the break.

With the expected onslaught, we saw out the first ten minutes in the second half and got ourselves two in front as John McGinn added himself to the scoresheet. Chances followed the make it three, but Derby were still in it (slightly). The game pivoted somewhat as colossal Tyrone Mings was on the floor in agony, and they got a goal back.

Mings left play and it was squeaky bum time, but bodies on the line saw us through, but it wasn’t comfortable.

We are back – the lion roars!