Aston Villa returned to the Premier League, after a three-year absence, beating Derby County 2-1 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley on Monday.
Goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn put Villa 2-0 up before Martyn Waghorn pulled one back for Derby in the 81st minute, but Dean Smith’s side held on for the victory under intense pressure.
The playoff final is considered the most lucrative single game of football in the world, with promotion earning Villa an estimated 170 million pounds ($215.51 million) in revenue.
Norwich City and Sheffield United had already secured promotion to the top flight for next season after finishing in the top two positions in the second tier Championship.
Villa, European champions in 1982, were relegated in 2016 and lost to Fulham in last year’s playoff final.
El Ghazi opened the scoring just before the break with a diving header from Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross from the right.
McGinn doubled the advantage in the 59th minute when a deflected shot from El Ghazi looped into the area. Derby keeper Kelle Roos came out but was unable to capture the ball under a challenge from McGinn, who bundled it home.
Derby, managed by former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard, got back in the game when substitute Jack Marriott’s low shot was turned in by Waghorn and they piled on the pressure in the final minutes, but were unable to break through.
Villa’s local-born midfielder Jack Grealish, who was close to leaving the club before the start of the season, showed his class throughout and was delighted with promotion.
“I’m speechless. It was such a hard game… It means the world to go up, we know where this club belongs. I’ve stayed here and we’re back there now. I’ve led my boyhood team to the Premier League,” he said.
A 10-match winning streak during the run-in propelled Smith’s Villa side into the playoffs where they got past West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals.
Smith, who began the season at Brentford and took over from Steve Bruce at Villa Park in October, said the club had an exciting future with the backing of owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
“It feels very good. The lads are a terrific bunch. They take on different ideas, they deserve it. I believe pressure is what you put on yourself, we work hard every day, the only difference is expectation. We’ve got two owners have got a lot of money, and are in it for the long haul. The potential now is massive,” he said.
Our Michael Yiakoumi seen here with Aston Villa manager Dean Smith,Assistant John Terry, players Tyrone Mings and Tammy Abraham.
Charlton Athletic came from behind and scored deep into added time to secure promotion to the Sky Bet Championship at the expense of Sunderland at Wembley Stadium.
The Addicks made the worst possible start, with Naby Sarr’s own goal gifting Sunderland the lead within the opening five minutes. They fought back and went into the break on level terms, though, after Ben Purrington finished an excellent team move.
Chances were few and far between in the second half, but it was the last one of the afternoon which mattered most, as Patrick Bauer popped up to fire Charlton to promotion and break Sunderland hearts.
Lee Bowyer named a youthful Charlton side ahead of the game, with six of his starting 11 aged 23 or younger. Sunderland’s line-up, meanwhile, was packed with experience, including the likes of Lee Cattermole, Grant Leadbitter and Chris Maguire.
And it was Maguire who had the first opening of the game on four minutes, with his volley saved by Dillon Phillips in the Addicks goal. The keeper’s next action just seconds later, however, is one he will want to forget.
A lapse in concentration saw Sarr’s back-pass go straight under Phillips’ boot and into his own net, a moment during which time seemed to slow down. Charlton had it all to do, and with only five minutes on the clock.
Sunderland had an issue of their own though, with tough-tackling midfielder Max Power forced off through injury within the opening 10 minutes, adding to what was an incredible start to the game. The Black Cats came forward again though, with Phillips making a fine stop to deny Leadbitter.
On 26 minutes, Charlton’s top scorer Lyle Taylor got his first look-in, after getting onto to the end of a diagonal ball, but volleyed over the bar. Their next opportunity, though, brought the equaliser, to huge celebrations in the west side of the ground.
A flowing move involving Joe Aribo and Taylor saw the latter whip an inviting cross right across the face of goal, and Purrington was there to tap home, leaving the game finely poised going into the break.
With the tension and the noise levels through the roof at Wembley, Charlton looked to pick up where they had left off after the restart. Taylor attacked down the right with several red shirts in support, but a strong challenge from Tom Flanagan stopped him in his tracks.
At the other end, Maguire played a good ball in towards substitute Lewis Morgan, who couldn’t sort his feet out in time to direct his effort on target. Shortly after, Jack Ross made a second change, with Will Grigg introduced from the bench.
Both sides were defending well, and the second period was one of few clear-cut chances. Former Sunderland man Jonny Williams came on for Charlton, with the Black Cats introducing Aiden McGeady for the closing stages.
Sunderland pressed for a late winner in normal time, with Grigg’s dangerous header back across goal cleared to safety but, deep into added time, it was the Addicks whole stole the show, and secured a place in the Sky Bet Championship.
An inviting cross was stood up to the back post, where big centre-back Bauer was waiting to pounce, and pounce he did. Charlton are going up!
Play-Off Final-winning manager Micky Mellon says a lot of hard work has gone into this season, as he watched his Tranmere Rovers side gain promotion to Sky Bet League One in dramatic fashion.
Connor Jennings’ 119th-minute header took Rovers to the promised land and subsequently broke Newport County hearts, but Mellon has praised the Exiles’ grit and determination.
He said: “I am made up, there has been a lot of hard work gone into a fairytale of a day, I am delighted to be standing in this unbelievable arena and to come out on top and go up to League One is fantastic.
“We were never really tipped to be standing here as a League One club, the game was very tough, two sets of real honest players and I knew it was going to be like that.
“You have to give great credit to Newport, they stuck at it all the way and I knew it was going to be hard, they have real big heart, they’ll keep fighting for the manager and the club.”
The Play-Off Final win at Wembley means that Tranmere have achieved back-to-back promotions from the National League and Sky Bet League Two respectively, and the 47-year-old says he is going to soak up the moment before planning for next season.
He added: “The players deserve too much credit for what they have done this season, a lot of hard work has gone into it, we knew we could score goals this season and keep clean sheets, so I am delighted.
“Scott Davies made some game-changing saves too, we have a real fighting spirit in this team, we have been to Wembley a few times now over the years and nothing seems to daunt them really.
“I am not even thinking about next season yet, I’ll be honest with you, I am going to enjoy this evening, have a brilliant bus journey home and I’m going to make sure I take it all in and enjoy myself.”
