It's been a long time coming ...
We're just fifteen minutes from the end of normal time and WBA have parked the proverbial bus, together with a small motorcade, in front of the Holte End. One up after sixteen minutes courtesy of a Glenn Whelan slip-up and a well taken goal by the Baggies' on-loan striker, Dwight Gayle they cling resolutely to the lead, defending deeper and deeper as time runs down. The ghost of Tony Pulis stalks Villa Park once more.
And then a shimmy by Jack Grealish on the edge of the penalty box has the WBA defence swarming to meet him, leaving Conor Hourihane space for a shot. The ball is passed and Conor hits it sweetly through a mass of advancing bodies into the left-hand side of the goal. Game on!!
Three minutes later and Tammy Abraham shapes up to take a penalty. Another foray by Grealish has ended with him on the floor after a messy challenge by Kieran Gibbs. Tammy strokes it effortlessly into the net and the lead is ours!!!
Things get worse for the Baggies. Already yellow-carded for persistent time-wasting Gayle clatters into Jed Steer, the Villa goal-keeper. A second booking sees him receive his marching orders, meaning he will miss the return leg at the Hawthorns.
Whilst it was an exhilarating match for the watching fans it's hardly a footballing classic. The Baggies revert to negative tactics and Villa match it with one of their worst performances for many a game. But despite that we take a one goal lead into the second leg of the play-off semi-finals and their key striker will now be sitting it out on the benches.
