Mile Jedinak headed Aston Villa a step closer to the Premier League as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the first leg of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final. The Australian’s deft 15th-minute finish handed the visitors a crucial lead to take into Tuesday night’s return fixture at Villa Park, and Robert Snodgrass would have added a second on the stroke of half-time but for a fine fingertip save from Darren Randolph. The game began at a frantic pace, with Villa working desperately hard in an attempt to deny dangerman Adama Traore the time and space he needed to prosper, and Snodgrass and Jack Grealish looking to carve open the home defence. Boro responded belatedly with Britt Assombalonga firing wastefully wide after controlling Jonny Howson’s long ball on his chest and then blasting another effort into the side-netting soon after. Boro returned in determined mood, but lacked inspiration as Villa defended deep, but with a measure of comfort, and attempted to hit the hosts on the counter.

Source: Irish Examiner May 12, 2018 18:33 UTC