Aston Villa: 3 keys to stopping Derby County in play-off final
By Josh Tonti
2. Error-free football, please.
Villa were oh so close to not even making the final after a penalty shootout victory.
Why?
A first-half error in the first-leg nearly negated all of this season’s accomplishments after Villa turned the ball over to an oncoming West Bromwich Albion runner. Dwight Gayle seized upon the opportunity to strike first, giving the Baggies a lead.
Villa came back, of course, scoring twice in four minutes for the 2-1 victory at Villa Park. But don’t count on a repeat should the claret and blues fall behind at Wembley. After all, they spent ~70 minutes trailing last season and could only muster a few Jack Grealish wonder runs/half-chances as Fulham kept the clean sheet.
The EFL Championship’s three most fouled players will all feature on Monday. Between Grealish, Wilson and John McGinn, the team that avoids the temptation of early bookings might come out the other side victorious.