Aston Villa vs Burton Albion. Sky Bet Championship.
Villa ParkAttendance33,022.
Saturday 3 February 2018 19:21, UK
Aston Villa's promotion push is now in top gear following their sixth successive league win - a feat they last achieved in February 1990 - following a 3-2 Championship home win over Burton.
Scott Hogan scored his fifth goal of the season in the first half, with Albert Adomah increasing the advantage in the 67th minute only for the Brewers to hit back with Ahmed Elmohamady putting through his own net.
Jack Grealish notched Villa's third goal two minutes from time and, although Liam Boyce swiftly grabbed a second for gritty Burton, the hosts held on for a far from convincing victory.
Rock-bottom Burton may have lost their previous three games, during which time they conceded 12 goals, but they played with plenty of heart - albeit they were in no small way assisted by a casual Villa side.
As usual Burton's main attacking moves were generated by Lloyd Dyer. He indicated his potential danger early on when he worked his way through, forcing Sam Johnstone to make a save at the near post.
With Villa struggling to find their attacking form, it was Burton's Lucas Atkins who went closest to opening the account only to fire his shot straight at Johnstone.
Grealish eventually began to make an impact as Burton's early flourish began to subside. He suddenly created several promising attacks, forcing Burton to mount a defensive blockade. But it was to no avail as Villa demonstrated their class when they took a 33rd-minute lead.
Grealish put Robert Snodgrass in possession and he moved to the left before slipping a superb pass through into the path of Adomah, who flicked in a high cross which Hogan turned home with Burton's defence completely wrong-footed.
Only a fine save prevented Hogan adding to his first-half tally when the striker produced a long-range shot from outside the penalty area.
The visitors gave a creditable account of themselves, but in the 63rd minute their defensive problems were exposed when Villa increased their lead.
Snodgrass again emerged as the goal provider with a high cross from the right which Tom Naylor missed completely, enabling Adomah to head home at the far post.
Villa made a double substitution, sending on recent loan signing Axel Tuanzebe and Joshua Onomah, but four minutes later Elmohamady scored an own goal following a save by Johnstone.
Grealish looked to have given them some breathing space when he hooked home a cross from Elmohamady two minutes from time, only for Boyce to make it 3-2 from close range, but Villa clung on.
Aston Villa assistant Colin Calderwood: "We are very happy with the win although we were a little nervy near the end. We got the job done but it proved the danger of the opposition irrespective of their league position. We conceded a couple of strange goals which is unusual for Villa and hopefully it will not occur again.
"We got nervy when there was only one goal in it and you need your experienced players, who rose to the occasion. But credit Burton for the way they kept themselves in the game. It typifies what the division is all about. The bottom teams will keep going at you and the enjoyment in this division is that it is unpredictable."
Nigel Clough: "It is lovely to get in a fresh face. It was his (Davenport's) debut at just 19 and it was a big day for him. I thought it was wonderful that he should put in such a good performance.
"The icing on the cake was getting Liam Boyce on the pitch and getting a goal. It was wonderful for him and us but left me thinking that if we had him for 20 other games, we would not be in our present position."
