Aston Villa vs West Brom LIVE: Dwight Gayle sent off as Villa take edge in Championship play-off semi-final

Follow all the latest from the crucial meeting at Villa Park

Marcelo Bielsa preview Leeds vs Derby County

West Brom were beaten by Aston Villa in a massive West Midlands derby in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.

The Baggies went in front when Dwight Gayle reacted quickly to a mistake in the Villa defence and slotted the ball home.

But Gayle was later sent off after Villa had hit back with two quickfire goals, with Tammy Abraham's penalty earning a 2-1 win.

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Key Points

• Dwight Gayle pounces on a mistake to put West Brom in front
• Villa score two quick goals before Gayle sent off
• Derby and Leeds to come later for football's most lucrative prize

[11 May 2019 12:30 · digitalsport]

Kick-off minutes away

Will this man have a big say in proceedings today?

We are moments away from kick-off at Villa Park and the atmosphere is building nicely!

[11 May 2019 12:33 · digitalsport]

KICK-OFF

We're underway at Villa Park and the atmosphere is fittingly electric!

[11 May 2019 12:35 · digitalsport]

ASTON VILLA 0-0 WEST BROM

4: Feisty start with a couple of meaty tackles going in from either side.

Villa win the first corner and the first chance falls to Whelan but he can't direct his header on target!

[11 May 2019 12:39 · digitalsport]

ASTON VILLA 0-0 WEST BROM

8: The hosts have had all of the possession so far in a bright start.

Nothing in the way of clear-cut chances yet though. 

[11 May 2019 12:42 · digitalsport]

ASTON VILLA 0-0 WEST BROM

9: The visitors really haven't got going yet.

A loose ball just outside the box falls to Adomah and he jinks and jives past a defender but his attempted curler is fired nowhere near the goal. 

[11 May 2019 12:44 · digitalsport]

ASTON VILLA 0-0 WEST BROM

SO CLOSE!

11: First real sign of intent from West Brom and it's Rodriguez who curls one towards the target.

Brilliant fingertips save from Steer tips the ball onto the bar!

[11 May 2019 12:46 · digitalsport]

ASTON VILLA 0-0 WEST BROM 

14: West Brom haven't lost a fixture against Aston Villa since March 2015 and that Rodriguez effort has sparked them into life here!

[11 May 2019 12:47 · digitalsport]

GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 WEST BROM (Gayle 16)

[11 May 2019 12:50 · digitalsport]

ASTON VILLA 0-1 WEST BROM

That really is poor!

West Brom had been bit by bit working their way into the contest and they are gifted the opening goal here by Whelan!

He sloppily loses the ball in just the wrong place which allows Gayle to run at the final Villa defender, open up his body and drill one into the bottom right hand corner of the net past Steer!

You cannot give any striker a gift like that.

Schoolboy error stuff. 

[11 May 2019 12:54 · digitalsport]

ASTON VILLA 0-1 WEST BROM

21: West Brom very clearly set up on the counter, planning to absorb Villa pressure and then break just as they did when Gayle scored his 24th goal of the season after Whelan's attempted stab at the ball!

Can Villa now respond after a promising first 15 minutes?