ASTON VILLA vs DERBY – CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY OFF FINAL
- Derby lost both of their Championship meetings with Aston Villa this season by an aggregate score of 7-0
- This is only the sixth second-tier play-off final between the teams finishing 5th and 6th in the division that season
- Aston Villa have lost five of their last six in all competitions in matches played at Wembley Stadium
- Harry Wilson has been involved in eight goals in his last 10 Championship matches for Derby
Aston Villa XI: Steer, Taylor, Tuanzebe, Elmohamady, Mings, McGinn, Grealish, Hourihane, Abraham, Adomah, El Ghazi
Derby XI: Roos, Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Cole, Mount, Johnson, Wilson, Huddlestone, Lawrence, Bennett
£170m, £170m, £170m…
14:10: Did you hear this match is worth an estimated £170million?! I’ve been watching the build-up on Sky Sports and they’ve only mentioned it 15 times.
That figure comes from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, which says the additional revenue will come over the next three seasons even if the winner suffers relegation in their first season in the Premier League.
And if they manage to survive in the top flight, the number will rise to around £300million over the next five years.
A club promoted to the Premier League will benefit from around £95million in extra revenues, primarily from broadcast and commercial sources, next season.
Should they be relegated, they would be due parachute payments worth around £75million over the next two seasons.
Those numbers would only go up if they can join the 63 per cent of promoted clubs who have survived their first season in the top flight over the last 10 years.
Aston Villa vs Derby LIVE: Championship play off final latest updates (Image: REUTERS)
Team News
14:05: Two quite settled sides here at Wembley today – not exactly the occasion to try something different.
Aston Villa make one change from the second leg of the semi-final at West Brom. Albert Adomah comes in for Andre Green.
As for Derby, they’ve made two changes with the suspended Scott Malone replaced by Ashley Cole. Tom Huddlestone come in for Duane Holmes.
The omen…
14:03: The team finishing sixth in the Championship have been promoted via the play-offs in just one of the last 13 seasons, with Blackpool beating Cardiff in the 2010 final.
Aston Villa vs Derby LIVE: Championship play off final latest updates (Image: GETTY)
The starting XI…
14:00: And here are the line-ups, folks. Ashley Cole does indeed start – he’s up against Albert Adomah…
Aston Villa XI: Steer, Taylor, Tuanzebe, Elmohamady, Mings, McGinn, Grealish, Hourihane, Abraham, Adomah, El Ghazi.
Subs: Kalinic, Whelan, Jedinak, Lansbury, Kodjia, Hause, Green.
Derby XI: Roos, Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Cole, Mount, Johnson, Wilson, Huddlestone, Lawrence, Bennett.
Subs: Carson, Waghorn, Jozefoon, Marriot, Evans, McDonald, Knight.
Aston Villa vs Derby LIVE: Championship play off final latest updates (Image: REUTERS)
Ashley Cole’s final match as a professional?
13:55: With two of his former Chelsea and England team-mates in opposing sides of the dugout – Lampard as Derby boss and John Terry as Villa assistant – Cole could be forgiven for wondering why he is still playing.
The 38-year-old, only a couple of weeks younger than Terry, is undoubtedly in the twilight of a glittering professional career but even though he has been used sparingly since signing for Derby on a short-term deal in January, it seems the fire burns brightly.
He has dropped no hints as to whether this match will be his swansong. Does he fancy another crack at the Premier League?
Aston Villa vs Derby LIVE: Championship play off final latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Twitter round-up
Richard: Even if Aston Villa were contesting the playoff final against any other club in the Championship (apart from us) I’d want them to win. They’re a proper football club and one of the few who have a divine right to be in the Prem as far as I’m concerned.
Rebecca: Sunday lunch eaten next shower then my Villa onesie time… See all you lunatics the other end!
Adelekan: There will be a special Chelsea interest in today’s fixture. Two Chelsea legends battle for a managerial return to the Premier League. Its going to be epic!!
I think we can all agree that Rebecca is definitely winning at life. Congratulations.
Money, Money, Money…
13:50: There is simply no getting away from it. While the opportunity to play in the Premier League will ensure members from both sides give their all, the fortune that follows a win can shape clubs for the next decade or more.
Deloitte’s Sports Business Group has estimated that the winners will pocket £170million, irrespective of whether they drop immediately back down to the second tier.
That figure would rise to around £300million if they can avoid relegation. The guaranteed windfall is therefore sure to be mentioned as the final nears.
Aston Villa vs Derby LIVE: Championship play off final latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Afternoon
13:45: Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Championship play off final from Wembley.
How are y’all enjoying your three-day weekend? I made the horrendous error of popping to my local beer festival for a quick ONE yesterday.
It wasn’t one. It was many. And I regret every single sip.
Moving swiftly on, today’s play-off final will be worth £170million to the winner, making it the most lucrative one-off match in world football.
There’s also the small matter of playing Premier League football and enjoying the luxury of Alan Shearer and Co taking chunks out of you on MOTD.
So much to discuss, so much drama to unfold, so I’d better get this thing underway. Standby for team news…