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Aston Villa scored three goals in 11 minutes to ensure a dominant display at Pride Park secured three points.
Words by Harry Trend (@HazaTrand)
10th November 2018, the day where it all clicked for Aston Villa under Dean Smith. Goals from John McGinn, Tammy Abraham and Conor Hourihane sealed an impressive away victory over Derby County.
Villa had the first real chance. Scott Carson’s poor kick came to Adomah, allowing the Ghanaian to float in a cross. Kodjia met it, but unfortunately the Ivorian couldn’t keep his header down.
In the first quarter of an hour both teams played some quality football – to the extent that you couldn’t tell it was a Championship game.
Soon after, Abraham saw his header saved low down from Scott Carson following another teasing Adomah delivery.
But for the final ten minutes of the half, Derby put Villa under intense pressure. Jack Marriot got the better of Axel Tuanzebe but his close-range shot was poked straight at Orjan Nyland, Chester then blocked a follow up shot before Harry Wilson’s effort was palmed out for a corner by the aforementioned Nyland.
Then Tom Lawrence had a good opportunity for the hosts. Chester misjudged the bounce of the ball which found its way through to the striker, however Lawrence could only poke a shot over the bar.
The second half was all Villa, but up until McGinn’s opener it was frustrating as we squandered all kinds of opportunities. Abraham headed over Elmohamady’s cross, McGinn managed to get something on Kodjia’s low ball, but it trickled wide of the far post, then Kodjia blazed an attempt high into the stands. It was starting to feel like one of those days.
But Villa were creating so much. The ball was constantly coming back to claret and blue shirt, in hindsight a Villa opener was inevitable.
And McGinn got it, arriving late to head in Yannick Bolasie’s swinging ball.
McGinn turned from scorer to creator four minutes later, his low delivery was finished at the near post by Abraham.
Our third was the best of the lot. Hourihane’s free-kick from 20 yards found the top left-hand corner – thus justifying his inclusion in Smith’s starting eleven if he hadn’t already.
“Were Aston villa, were taking the p***”, the Pride faithful sang. And we were, 21 shots away from home suggests this.
Let’s just hope we can take this form into the derby in a fortnight.
