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Aston Villa ended their three-year Premier League exile after goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn secured a deserved 2-1 win over Derby at Wembley.<\/p>\nAston Villa ended their three-year Premier League exile after goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn secured a deserved 2-1 win over Derby at Wembley.<\/p>\n
A year after suffering Sky Bet Championship play-off final heartbreak at the hands of Fulham, Villa made amends as El Ghazi and McGinn headed home either side of half-time to give them control of a pulsating encounter.<\/p>\n
Rams substitute Jack Marriott set up a tense finish by halving the deficit nine minutes from time but Villa dug in to hold on.<\/p>\n
Victory for Dean Smith\u2019s side in the most lucrative game in world football will pocket the West Midlands club a minimum \u00a3170million and returns them to the top flight for the first time since relegation in 2016.<\/p>\n
Derby, meanwhile, suffered further late-season despair, losing in the play-offs for the fourth time in six seasons.<\/p>\n
Frank Lampard\u2019s men, who impressively came back to knock out Leeds in the semi-finals, struggled to create for much of the game and could have few complaints about a result which condemns them to a 12th successive campaign in the second tier.<\/p>\n
Lampard\u2019s disappointment contrasted with the jubilation experienced by his former Chelsea and England team-mate John Terry, who was in the opposing dugout in his role as Villa assistant boss.<\/p>\n
Villa had lost each of their last four Wembley finals, dating back to the 2000 FA Cup final which was the last one to be played at the old stadium.<\/p>\n
After winning both league games between the sides by an aggregate score of 7-0, they were firm favorites going into the game.<\/p>\n
Villa boss Smith said his players could make themselves \u201cicons\u201d with glory at the national stadium and his side began on the front foot and edged a cagey opening period devoid of clear chances.<\/p>\n
Jack Grealish lashed over from the edge of the box early on following a poor clearance from Derby goalkeeper Roos, while Tammy Abraham later showed a glimpse of his class before side-footing off target.<\/p>\n
Derby\u2019s last play-off final ended in an agonizing 1-0 loss to QPR in 2014.<\/p>\n
They eventually mustered a meaningful attempt eight minutes before the break, although Mason Mount\u2019s drive was straight at Jed Steer.<\/p>\n
The contest was in desperate need of a spark and it duly arrived a minute before the break with a sweeping move which began deep in Villa territory.<\/p>\n
After being released by captain Grealish, Conor Hourihane sprayed the ball wide to Albert Adomah. He laid the ball back for Ahmed Elmohamady to deliver a pinpoint cross which replays showed El Ghazi scruffily turned into the bottom left corner with his back after arriving ahead of Jayden Bogle.<\/p>\n
With Scott Malone suspended and Duane Holmes injured, Lampard had turned to experience to plug the gaps, selecting former England internationals Ashley Cole and Tom Huddlestone.<\/p>\n
His side needed to respond but, after a fractious beginning to the second period, they fell further behind.<\/p>\n
El Ghazi\u2019s attempted cross was deflected into the air and McGinn nipped in and capitalized on Roos\u2019 fumble to nod home in front of the jubilant Villa supporters.<\/p>\n
With little to lose, Lampard threw on attacking duo Marriott and Martyn Waghorn in the hope of forcing extra-time.<\/p>\n
Marriott, who had been the semi-final hero at Elland Road, gave the Rams a lifeline with a neat finish on the turn after Bogle nodded down inside the box.<\/p>\n
But, despite seven minutes of added time, Derby were unable to force an equalizer during a frenetic finish.<\/p>\n