MX23RW : Thursday, April 11 07:51:07| >> :60:678:678:
Apr 10, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at ​AESSEAL New York Stadium (Rotherham, South Yorkshire)
RotherhamRotherham United
1-2
Aston Villa
Vaulks (36' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)
Kodjia (48' pen.), Grealish (51')
Mings (34')

Smith lauds Villa's fight as his 10-man side make it seven straight wins

Smith lauds Villa's fight as his 10-man side make it seven straight wins
© Reuters
Villa came from behind to win at Rotherham.

Dean Smith hailed Aston Villa's character after they came from behind with 10 men to beat Rotherham 2-1 at the New York stadium.

Villa made it seven wins in a row despite Tyrone Mings picking up a second booking in conceding one of three penalties awarded by referee Andrew Madley.

Rotherham deservedly led through Will Vaulks' spot-kick at half-time but the visitors defied their numerical disadvantage to come roaring back through Jonathan Kodjia's penalty and a Jack Grealish effort.

The win strengthens Villa's play-off hopes, but Rotherham remain in the bottom three despite a spirited display.

"I thought we were magnificent second half," Smith said.

"We can talk long and hard about the quality of players we've got but tonight was about spirit."

Tammy Abraham had already missed a penalty for Villa when Mings conceded a spot-kick for handball, but Smith felt the second yellow card shown to the on-loan Bournemouth defender was unnecessary.

"For me there's too much inconsistency in the decision making," he added.

"They started better than we did today. They got in our faces, closed us down, were competitive – sometimes on the wrong side of it for me, I thought some of our players needed more protection.

"Tyrone's getting clipped round the ankles, retaliates and gets a yellow card. Their lad scythes down Jack Grealish for a penalty and doesn't get cautioned.

"Then their lad has a shot, it hits Tyrone on the arm but for me never a yellow card. Why do you give another one? I don't understand it."

The home side started brightly, with Jon Taylor drilling a low effort wide and Semi Ajayi forcing visiting keeper Jed Steer into a smart save.

Madley pointed to the spot after 11 minutes when Grealish was upended by Clark Robertson, but Abraham's weak effort was turned behind by Marek Rodak.

Mings had already been booked when he needlessly handled Joe Newell's cross and was promptly given his marching orders.

Vaulks made no mistake from 12 yards as he blasted the resulting spot-kick past Steer to give the Millers a deserved half-time lead.

However, the game turned on its head within moments of the second half starting.

Madley ruled that Ajayi had deliberately handled Ahmed Elmohamady's cross from the right, and substitute Kodjia fired his penalty into the top corner.

Villa then went ahead in the 51st minute, with Grealish playing an excellent one-two with Elmohamady before placing a calm finish beyond Rodak.

Rotherham manager Paul Warne admitted Mings' sending off had ultimately not worked in his side's favour.

"It was a great spectacle for the neutral," he said.

"I thought it was a bit harsh for a second yellow. The first 10 minutes second half have swung the game and we weren't good enough on the night to get a second goal.

"I take great pride in the first half performance against the form team in the championship.

"I thought we lost a little bit of a battle in the middle of the pitch. Their quality with the ball told with the randomness of it being 11 against 10.

"A point would have been a good point tonight but it wasn't to be unfortunately."


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Rotherham United manager Paul Warne pictured on January 26, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Chelsea33206757342366
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs322111060342664
5Arsenal32196765402563
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd32187761431861
7Leicester CityLeicester33145144644247
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32138114039147
9Everton33137134642446
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham33126154150-942
12Crystal Palace33116163943-439
13Bournemouth33115174461-1738
14Burnley33106174060-2036
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3398163143-1235
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3196163246-1433
17Southampton3289153653-1733
18Cardiff CityCardiff3284202861-3328
RFulham3345243076-4617
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3335251963-4414

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