By Graham Hill
FORMER Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has made his prediction for the Championship Play-off Final – and if he is right, then Dean Smith’s side will be celebrating a return to the Premier League.
Hendrie went head to head with ex-Derby County player Seth Johnson on Sky Sports News.
And he says Villa will run out narrow winners over the Rams in a close Wembley encounter.
Villa have beaten Frank Lampard’s team 7-0 on aggregate in their two League games this season. And the 4-0 victory at Villa Park was particularly convincing.
But Derby showed in the semi-finals against Leeds that form in the regular season counts for nothing.
Hendrie still believes Villa are clear favourites to win though.
He believes the momentum Smith’s team have been gathering is the key factor.
Hendrie said: “If Villa turn up and really reproduce some of the form they have done for the past two or three months, then they can really dominate this game.
“I really do. I feel Villa have that little bit more of an edge going into this game.”
Johnson felt that Derby will run out 2-1 winners, but Hendrie flipped that scoreline around.
Hendrie said: “I think it’ll be 2-1 to Villa and Tammy Abraham will score two goals. Villa have too much. They’ve beaten Derby twice this season and not scored a goal against them.”
