Championship play-off match report West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa 14 May 2019
Aston Villa edged ten-man West Bromwich Albion 4-3 on penalties to advance to the Championship Play-off final. West Brom started with one change in Jacob Murphy to Villa's two in Conor Hourihane and Andre Green. After a quiet opening spell, the Baggies drew level on aggregate 29 minutes in when Craig Dawson met a long throw-in from Mason Holgate to head past Jed Steer. Villa leaned towards a leveller shortly afterwards, but were unable to carve out a serious opening before the halftime break. Albion squandered a huge chance to go further in front on 56 minutes when Murphy's shot was cleared off the line by Tyrone Mings, before the Claret and Blue posed their first threat on 63 minutes when John McGinn fired narrowly over the top. Soon after, Pressure set on Albion when Johnstone palmed Anwar El Ghazi's shot to safety, as on 73 minutes Stefan Johansen hobbled off for James Morrison for their first switch. West Brom's evening turned sour on 80 minutes when veteran midfielder Chris Brunt saw red for a lunging challenge on McGinn. Johnstone masterminded a powerful save on 88 minutes after pushing Adomah's effort wide, and made another late on to keep out McGinn and sent the game in to extra-time. With no away goal applicable, extra time reined in as Johnstone parried a low shot 110 minutes in from Jack Grealish. Villa kept momentum, but Johnstone plucked out Adomah's header from the post four minutes later, as the match went to a penalty shoot-out. After two saves from Steer, Villa won the shootout with forward Tammy Abraham firing in the winning kick to send the team through to the final at Wembley Stadium.