Player Grades: Aston Villa deny Brighton and Hove Albion the title

Aston Villa closed out their season in the Championship in exciting fashion. Jack Grealish’s 89th-minute strike handed Newcastle United the title over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Watch as Newcastle United celebrated winning the English second division title in thrilling fashion:

Newcastle supporters were certain they would have to settle for second until the very end. At the conclusion of their 3-0 victory over Barnsley, supporters and players stuck around until the end.

Grealish scored, Blackburn were relegated, and like that, the season is over.

Johnstone made three saves on the evening. Glenn Murray’s penalty kick was the only ball to make it through Johnstone’s net. Hopefully we’ll see more of Sam in an Aston Villa kit.

Fantastic ninety minutes from the nineteen year old. Bree brilliantly played off of all his teammates – completing 87% of his passes. The right back job going into next season remains very interesting.

Stout for much of the evening, otherwise very quiet from the captain.

Harshly sent off for foul in the box. Nathan Baker was sent off by the referee. All in all, very impressive season. Baker has cemented his place in the starting lineup beside James Chester.

Assisted on Jack Grealish’s second-half strike. Aston Villa vastly improved with Neil Taylor in the lineup over Jordan Amavi (more on him below).

Perhaps Conor Hourihane’s finest performance in a Villa shirt. Hourihane operated in a different role than usual, playing the deepest in a midfield three. No player is more important to Aston Villa’s success next season than this Ireland international.

Looks much better playing in central midfield. How many starts will Bacuna accumulate next season? He’s a Steve Bruce favorite.

As always, Henri Lansbury completes a number of key passes on the final third. Unfortunately, the finishing just was not there all the way around.

Very anonymous against Brighton with just 27 touches in sixty minutes of play. Adomah’s form certainly dropped off, but he enjoyed one hell of a season.

Injured (again) and subbed off Keinan Davis (who really impressed). The important thing for Scott Hogan is staying fit, as he’s a difference maker in the squad.

Amavi came off following Nathan Baker’s red card, but he, like Albert Adomah, was quiet on the afternoon. Was this Jordan Amavi’s final appearance as a member of the claret and blues? The summer transfer window will tell.