Abraham’s thinking he can be Villa icon
TAMMY ABRAHAM hopes to become an Aston Villa legend by smashing 30 goals this season to fire the club to the Premier League.
The on-loan Chelsea striker cooly netted his 26th of the season from the spot to cap a barnstorming Villa comeback against local rivals the Baggies.
He is now hoping for at least four more goals in potentially two games if Villa reach the play-off final at Wembley.
The 21-year-old was courted by Premier League Wolves in January but Villa manager Dean Smith urged him to stay and become a club icon if they go up.
In-form Abraham is rising to the occasion after scoring just five league goals as Swansea were relegated last term.
Asked if he now fancied hitting 30 goals, Abraham said: “Hopefully, that is the aim and I will keep going. Everyone has supported me and believed in me. That gives you extra confidence.
“The boys were asking me if I was scared on the penalty but I wasn’t. I just focused on the keeper thinking, ‘it is me and you here’.
“We are halfway there, we still have a massive game against West Brom on Tuesday. So if we get through that, I can focus on being a legend then.”
West Brom looked like winning at Villa Park for the second time this term when they led from Dwight Gayle’s 24th of the season.
But Villa improved after the break when Conor Hourihane came on as he thumped in a brilliant equaliser from Jack Grealish’s assist.
Villa captain Grealish, who missed three months crocked from December to March, was then brought down by Kieran Gibbs, allowing Abraham to convert.
The striker said: “Even though we had a tough spell in the middle of the season, Jack said, ‘Just wait until I get back fit, we will be on the up again’. He’s a such a good leader.”
Villa were handed another huge boost two minutes from time when prolific Gayle was sent off for two bookings and will miss tomorrow’s second leg.
Abraham said: “He is a great finisher. It is a bonus for us that someone like him is missing.”
But Baggies caretaker manager Jimmy Shan plans to draw inspiration from Liverpool and Spurs’ unlikely Champions League comebacks to reach the final.
He said: “Those two games had teams that were out of sight... We’re only a goal behind.”