🤔 Four conclusions as Aston Villa edge Derby to the Premier League | OneFootball

So there we have it!

Aston Villa will be playing Premier League football next season after overcoming Frank Lampard’s derby.

Here’s what we learned from a tense affair at Wembley.

Grealish leads by example

Jack Grealish has been instrumental since returning from injury and seemed to relish responsibility at Wembley.

He didn’t score or assist, but his work-rate, ball retention and discipline were exemplary. A captain’s performance.

Mistakes prove costly

Derby have been great to watch this season with young talent flourishing under progressive, attacking football.

But their defensive shortcomings were on display against Villa which ultimately cost them top-flight promotion.

Chelsea remain the backstory

This may have been a Championship play-off, but Chelsea were undoubtedly watching with intent.

What happens to loanees Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori next season amid their transfer ban?

And will Frank Lampard now be an easier target to poach? They’ll be happy for John Terry at least.

All eyes on survival

Sometimes you look at the promoted teams coming up and think, “they’re going down” without much thought.

But Villa – like Norwich and Sheffield United – look to have something about them.

Keeping Grealish is imperative, and they look set to lose some influential loanees, but Dean Smith has drilled them into an impressive unit.