Villa hold off Boro to reach Championship playoff final
LONDON: Aston Villa sealed their place in the Championship playoff final after holding Middlesbrough at bay in a tense 0-0 draw at Villa Park that sent the Midlands club through 1-0 on aggregate.
Steve Bruce’s side will face Fulham in the final at Wembley as they look to return to the Premier League from which they were relegated in 2016.
Having won the semi-final first leg 1-0 courtesy of a Mile Jedinak strike, Villa showed some organised defending to hold off Boro who were looking for an immediate return to the top-flight on Tuesday.
At the heart of that defence was former Chelsea and England centre back John Terry who joined the club last year on a free transfer and whose appointment as captain appears to have had a significant impact.
“(We’ve produced) Two very good performances away and at home tonight. The boys are different class. I think it was important in the first half that we did not concede. Another clean sheet and a great night,” Terry said.
“It was intense. I think our game plan worked very well so the manager deserves a lot credit for that. But the boys have been superb and we’re off to Wembley with one more to go.”
The match began with a minute’s applause for former Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel who died earlier on Tuesday at the age of 37 in a car accident.
Boro created few clear-cut chances but almost levelled the tie late on when Stewart Downing’s 89th-minute free-kick from just outside the penalty area rattled the crossbar.
That proved to be the closest they came to a shot on target all evening and manager Tony Pulis, who began this season in the Premier League in charge of West Bromwich Albion, knew his side were always outsiders to reach the final.
The playoff final will be held at Wembley on May 26 where Villa will face Fulham who overcame Derby County 2-1 on aggregate on Monday.
Bruce has led two teams through the playoffs to the Premier League but expected a tight encounter against the Londoners.
“They’re a good football side. They’ve got some good players but, then again, so have we,” he said.
“We’re going to Wembley, let’s enjoy it.”