Craig to rescue as Brunt sees red

CRAIG DAWSON had stars in his eyes yet again as West Brom scrapped out a classic battle with their big rivals.

Dawson’s first-half goal tied this Championship play-off semi-final up but it was another night of red card misery for the Baggies.

Centre-back Dawson had to quit the first leg after a clash of heads left him seeing stars.

But skipper Chris Brunt was left seeing red when he was sent off in the 80th minute after a second reckless challenge on John McGinn.

The home side were reduced to 10 men when Brunt became the third Albion player to be sent off in the last three matches following successive dismissals for Hal Robson-Kanu and AGG: 2-2 – EXTRA TIME

Dwight Gayle. Dawson’s goal was all that separated the sides going in at half-time after an edgy and evenly contested opening period.

Neither goalkeeper had been forced to do anything significant apart from Villa’s Jed Steer – and that was picking the ball out of his net in the 29th minute. What a cracking goal it was too, the big defender making a terrific leap to get above his markers to meet a Mason Holgate long throw.

Holgate hurled it towards the edge of the six-yard box and Villa were caught reacting way too slowly as Dawson rose magnificently to flick the ball goalwards.

The ball flew down a channel between Tammy Abraham and Ahmed Elmohamady and by the time Steer realised there was a major problem it struck the inside of his righthand post and nestled in the net.

It was just the tonic Albion needed, cheered on by a fervent home crowd so desperate to see them repair the damage from last Saturday.

Not scoring wasn’t an option with them trailing 2-1 from the first leg after surrendering the advantage of a lead and seeing top scorer Gayle sent off late on.

Gayle watched on from the stand and punched the air in delight as Dawson got on the scoresheet.

Up to then the only talking point had been whether Albion should have been awarded a penalty when Anwar El Ghazi appeared to use the top of his arm to shield the ball in the box. Neither side needed reminding of the enormity of this game, though Villa’s players and staff were given one before they had set foot in the ground.

Their team coach was met by a boisterous greeting party of Baggies supporters who let them know in no uncertain terms that they were strangers in town.

After the interval the Baggies turned up the heat in a throbbing Hawthorns atmosphere and looked the likelier side to get the next goal.

Villa held out but started to look ragged at times and when Tyrone Mings made a hash of a clearance he was fortunate to see Brunt’s curling 20-yarder fly just wide.

Albion had to rely on a superb late save from Johnstone to force extra time as he made a brilliant flying stop to beat away an Albert Adomah drive.