REPORT: Sheff Wednesday 1-3 Villa

Aston Villa claimed victory over former manager Steve Bruce, as they made it six wins in a row in the Championship.

Dean Smith named an unchanged team for the fifth game running. Henri Lansbury returned to the substitutes bench after a two-month injury lay-off.

Hosts out the blocks

Sheffield Wednesday got out of the blocks with a goal after seven minutes. Caught out, Ahmed Elmohamady couldn’t retrieve the situation as George Boyd had the freedom of the left side. He squared the ball across the box where Gary Hooper waited to net his first of the season.

Villa was soon level against the run of play. McGinn popped up with an equaliser as Andre Green’s hard work on the right side was rewarded. McGinn controlled his accurate strike across Kieran Westwood’s goal. The scores where level at the break.

In what was a tricky day for Tyrone Mings, the Bournemouth loanee was caught out by the returning Steven Fletcher. The referee awarded Sheffield Wednesday a penalty.

Jed Steer prevented Sheffield Wednesday from taking the lead by saving Fletcher’s penalty.

The comeback

As the game looked like it would peter out to a draw, Villa stunned the hosts. Albert Adomah and Tammy Abraham ended Bruce’s 12 matches unbeaten reign at the death, striking in the 92nd and 94th stroke of play.

Manipulating the ball beyond Sam Hutchinson, Jack Grealish set up substitute Jonathan Kodjia for a drive at goal. Westwood could only parry his effort and Adomah was sharp enough to turn in from an acute angle.

Villa doubled their advantage a minute later, as Elmohamady’s counter press proved detrimental to Wednesday’s playoff hopes. He played a through ball to Abraham, who eventually scored his first away goal of the calendar year. Abraham’s 23rd goal of the encapsulated Villa’s display, as he dug deep to muster the chance to send his side into 5th.

Smith said, “finding a way to win is important, today was a grind but we ground out a win from nowhere, really.”

His side will look to make not seven in a row as they travel to Rotherham on Wednesday, before hosting Bristol City at Villa Park three days later.