Busy chewing their nails off during a nerve-jangling win over West Brom, Aston Villa fans may have missed a hilarious moment involving Jonathan Kodjia as they booked their place in the Championship play-off final.
Craig Dawson’s towering header in Tuesday night’s second leg at the Hawthorns made it 2-2 on aggregate and ten-man West Brom took the match to a penalty shootout where they were eventually beaten by Dean Smith’s visitors.
Villa will face either Leeds or Derby at Wembley on May 27 for a place in the Premier League.
Smith’s side were given an almighty advantage in the 80th minute of the clash as Baggies captain Chris Brunt was given his marching orders for a second yellow card before the match headed into extra-time.
As Brunt made his way off the pitch, Villa substitute Kodjia gave West Brom’s captain a helping hand by pointing him in the direction of the tunnel.
Absolutely outstanding s***housery from that man Kodjia…
Kodjia showing Brunt the way to go… #avfc pic.twitter.com/YRtdaWEEGn
— First Half: 2-1 (@VillasPoints) May 14, 2019
Tammy Abraham, who scored Villa’s winning spot-kick, heaped praise on Jed Steer after the goalkeeper saved Albion’s first two penalties in the shootout.
‘What a keeper. We’ve been practising in training, I missed a couple against him but what a man!’ Abraham told Sky Sports after Villa’s victory.
‘I’m used to the pressure, I like it but its not up to me its up to the man beside me [Jed] he saved us today.
‘It means the world to everyone. These amazing fans have supported us all the way! We just have to do the final bit.’
⚽️ Tammy Abraham the hero for #AVFC
Villa are heading to Wembley for the play-off final for the second successive season.
? Watch reaction live on Sky Sports Football: https://t.co/QIOZ4d0LBD pic.twitter.com/qdTdptiS3n
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2019
Smith revealed his players put in hours on the training ground in preparation for a penalty shootout and believes their hard work paid off at the Hawthorns.
‘Job done in terms of getting to the next game at Wembley. We have to do one more now,’ Smith said after the final whistle.
‘The day we knew we were in the play-offs we started working on penalties so we’ve being doing this for four weeks. We had a plan for who would take them.
‘It’s very hard for Jed Steer in terms of which way the opposition would go. ‘
On Abraham taking the final penalty, Smith said: ‘There were three of four of them who wanted the fifth penalty but Tammy Abraham is a prolific finisher and he’s shown that tonight.’
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