Aston Villa are back in the big-time! Aston Villa are back in the big-time! Villa sealed their return to the Premier League with a thrilling play-off final victory over Derby County at Wembley. It ends a three-year exodus from the top flight. The claret and blue faithful are buzzing - here are the latest links you need to read. The must reads How to buy our promotion souvenir special - READ You really must see this Back Where We Belong tribute - READ Villa's PREMIER LEAGUE fixture list! - READ 'Massive' - with the season ticket sales to prove it - READ JT's message to Villa fans - READ For all your latest Villa news, opinion, analysis and transfer gossip, click here<doc-sep>A dramatic turnaround from Aston Villa was enough to earn them a 2-1 victory at Villa Park in the first leg of their play-off semi-final first leg against West Bromwich Albion. Despite the visitors being in control for most of the game, a quickfire double late on gave Villa the advantage going into the second leg, before the Baggies' misery was compound late on when Dwight Gayle was dismissed for a second bookable offence after colliding with Villa keeper Jed Steer. The away fans didn't have to wait long for a goal, Gayle pouncing on a defensive error to burst through and fire the ball into the bottom corner. The Baggies looked utterly in control until the second-half introduction of Conor Hourihane. During a patient Villa attack, the Irishman held his position on the edge of the box; waited for Grealish to find him and unleashed a lethal long range effort to bring his side level. One quickly became two for the home team, as Grealish was put through on the right-hand side, only to be brought down by Kieran Gibbs. There were few complaints from the former Arsenal man, and Tammy Abraham duly fired home from the penalty spot. ASTON VILLA Key Talking Point The five minute second-half spell could make all the difference for ​Villa in this tie. From looking lacklustre in attack to finding themselves ahead within a matter of minutes, the home fans were in disbelief as the tie was turned on its head. The introduction of Hourihane proved pivotal, with Smith's side in desperate need of inspiration. They got just that when the Irish midfielder let fly from the edge of the box to level the scores. The atmosphere sky-rocketed from there as the Villa Park faithful began to believe once again. Tammy Abraham has scored his 60th goal in English football across all competitions. He's only 21 years old.  pic.twitter.com/mDxGvyhdCY — Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 11, 2019 The noise from the home support appeared to consume the Baggies, as just a few minutes later, Kieran Gibbs needlessly went to ground and brought down Grealish to give Tammy Abraham the opportunity to level from the spot. Player Ratings Starting XI: Steer (7); Elmohamady (6), Tuanzebe (6), Mings (6), Taylor (6); Whelan (4), Adomah (6), McGinn (6), Grealish (7), El Ghazi (7*); Abraham (7) Substitutes: Hourihane (7), Green (6), Kodija (N/A) STAR MAN Anwar El Ghazi looked a real threat in the Villa attack, as he regularly exploited spaces in behind wing-back Mason Holgate. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, his fellow attackers were not on the same wavelength, as they struggled to make any impression on the game. The story didn't change in the second half, the home side looked most dangerous when El Ghazi was given the ball and was allowed to dribble. The winger came close to grabbing an equaliser when he unleashed a shot from 25 yards out, but saw his effort fly just over the bar. Despite not being directly involved with either goal, you could argue that the wide man had tired out the Baggies defence all game, allowing his team mates to take advantage late on. His contribution will be needed once again on Tuesday night. WEST BROM Key Talking Point You can't help but feel ​West Brom have blown a massive opportunity to make it to Wembley after giving up a one goal lead. Despite looking defensively solid for the majority of the game, the Baggies came unstuck after a double from Hourihane and Abraham. Gibbs may feel some of the responsibility, as his needless sliding tackle gifted the opportunity to Grealish to hit the deck and earn his side a penalty, which Abraham neatly tucked away. A 2-1 away defeat would not have been the worst result coming into this tie, but the manner of defeat is sure to play on the minds of the away team. Player Ratings Starting XI: Johnstone (7); Holgate (6), Dawson (6), Bartley (6), Hegazy (7), Gibbs (6) ; Brunt (6), Johansen (7*); Phillips (7), Rodriguez (6), Gayle (7) Substitutes: Mears (6), Murphy (6), Morrison (6) STAR MAN This would have gone to Baggies forward Dwight Gayle, were it not for his needless red card five minutes from time. The English forward led the line the brilliantly and got a deserved goal after pouncing on a defensive error. However, his afternoon was soured just before the end as he picked up his second yellow card of the game. Look instead to the performance of midfield enforcer Stefan Johansen. The Norwegian, on loan from Fulham, showed his worth on Saturday afternoon as his breaking up of Villa attacks restricted the home side's offensive potential. In particular, his battle with Grealish was a tasty one, but Johansen's experience told as he always stayed on the right side of a yellow card. Looking Ahead ​These two meet for the second half of this tie at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night, knowing that the winner will book their place at Wembley on the 27th May. For a long time, it looked as though the Baggies would have one foot in the final, only for a quickfire Villa double to completely change the complexion of this clash. To make the task even harder for Shan's side, they will need to turn this tie around without their star striker Dwight Gayle. West Brom may look back on the forward's late red as the decisive factor in such a hotly contested semi-final.<doc-sep>West Brom vs Aston Villa: Gayle ban discussed by pundits HERE for the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign upfor the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. West Brom caretaker boss Jimmy Shan will draw on Champions League inspiration to get the Baggies to Wembley. Albion trail 2-1 after Saturday's Championship play-off semi-final first leg at Aston Villa. The hosts scored two quick-fire goals through Conor Hourihane and Tammy Abraham's penalty to cancel out Dwight Gayle's opener. After Liverpool and Tottenham's stunning Champions League semi-final comebacks against Barcelona and Ajax last week, Shan knows the Baggies can recover. He said: "Those two games were teams that were out of sight. We're only a goal behind. "There are lots of positives that we can take and build into the game on Tuesday evening and that's what we will do. "The boys are very positive that we can be a bit more creative and positive at times and we need to take the game to Aston Villa. "That's what they did for the first 15 minutes against us and we weathered the storm because the momentum and atmosphere in the crowd were very good. That's the approach we need." Dean Smith, meanwhile, says his side will not sit back and defend their advantage as the Villa boss targets another victory over West Brom this evening. West Brom vs Aston Villa TV channel: Find out how to watch the action West Brom vs Aston Villa TV channel: How will the game unfold? "I won't be sat behind the ball as much as Albion were. My aim is to go and win the game. We'll be looking to score more goals," Smith said. "I said before that the tie couldn't be won in the first leg. We've given ourselves an advantage, but that's all it is. We've got to go and perform at The Hawthorns now. "It'll be a different game. I can't see them playing how they did (at Villa Park). "We've got to go there full of confidence. There's a lot of belief in this team, that's for sure." Trending West Brom vs Aston Villa TV channel: Who will come out on top? Aston Villa deserved win against West Brom says Dean Smith<doc-sep>Norwich City and Sheffield United have already guaranteed promotions to the Premier League and now four teams compete in a playoff for the final spot. Leeds United, West Brom, Aston Villa and Derby County start their path to the Premier League on Saturday when the first of two legs kick off. English Football League Championship playoff schedule Saturday, May 11 Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion, 7:30 a.m. ET -- ESPN+ Derby County vs. Leeds United, 12:15 p.m. ET -- ESPN+ Tuesday, May 14 West Bromwich Albion vs. Aston Villa, 3 p.m. ET -- ESPN+ Wednesday, May 15 Leeds United vs. Derby County, 2:45 p.m. ET -- ESPN+ Leeds United vs. Derby County Leeds finished third in the table with 83 points, meanwhile Derby County came in sixth place with 74 points and was awarded the final spot in the playoffs. Derby County is playing in-form right now, winning four its past six matches, including a 3-1 win over West Brom in the final match of the season. Harry Wilson leads the team with 17 goals. Patrick Bamford is suspended for the first leg for Leeds, who has has struggled as of late. It has lost three of its last four games and missed out on a chance to have clinched an automatic promotion to the Premier League. Leeds has not been in the Premier League since 2004, Derby County was last in the Premier League in 2008. West Brom vs. Aston Villa West Brom finished fourth in the table with 80 points, meanwhile Aston Villa finished in fifth place with 76 points. These two teams finished second and third in the league in goals scored, so it may be a high-scoring affair. Tammy Abraham is the leading goal-scorer for Aston Villa, netting 25 goals on the season, good for tied for the second most in the league. West Brom has dropped its last two matches, giving up three goals in each match. West Brom could get back in the Premier League after a one-year break. It was in the Premier League from 2010-2018, before coming in last place and being relegated. Aston Villa was in the Premier League's inaugural season in 1992 and remained in the division until 2016. It lost to Fulham in the EFL Championship playoffs final last year.<doc-sep>
West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa will face each other in the Championship this evening. Aston Villa will be looking to book their place in the Championship playoff final this evening when they take on West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals. Villa got the better of West Brom 2-1 at Villa Park in the first leg of their Championship semi-final tie this past Saturday. The Villans had to come from a goal down to win against the Baggies, and Dean Smith’s side will be hoping to get the job done in the second leg at The Hawthorns this evening. Why you'd be foolish to write Celtic off next season Villa will be confident of winning this evening, especially as West Brom are without the suspended Newcastle United-owned striker Dwight Gayle. The Baggies, though, still have a strong attacking lineup, and the visiting team cannot get complacent. If West Brom get the opening goal, especially early on in the match, then it is going to be quite tricky for Villa. This is how West Brom and Villa will line up in the second leg of their Championship semi-final tie at The Hawthorns this evening: This content could not be loaded The teams are in! Jacob Murphy comes into our XI to replace the suspended Dwight Gayle. COME ON YOU BAGGIES #EFLPlayOffs | #WBA pic.twitter.com/JAvCenLq5g — West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) May 14, 2019 This content could not be loaded The team. Two changes. @ConorHourihane and @AndreGreen_ start at The Hawthorns.#AVFC pic.twitter.com/3t5O48Z1XO — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 14, 2019 In other news, Report: Southampton and Crystal Palace want to sign Antonio Conte's forgotten man