Aston Villa: 3 keys to stopping Derby County in play-off final

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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – MAY 14: Players clash during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on May 14, 2019 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images ) /

1. Keep up the pressure early and often against an injured team.

Last year, Villa looked sluggish very quickly against Fulham. That culminated in a 23rd-minute goal when midfielder Tom Cairney exposed space between defenders John Terry and Alan Hutton.

The key, this year, is a fast start against a dangerous Derby team in transition. Don’t let the likes of Mason Mount and Harry Wilson control possession in the middle third early on. For Villa to succeed, a good plan of attack should look to exploit areas where Derby are weakest. Left-back Scott Malone is suspended, while striker Martyn Waghorn and midfielder Duane Holmes are question marks. Moreover, David Nugent is out with a knee injury, depleting bench and attacking depth for Lampard to choose from.

Keep it tidy, keep the attacks incisive, and look to draw some fouls. Which brings me to my next point…

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