Championship play-off semi-final first leg: Aston Villa 2 West Brom 1 - Report and pictures

Dean Smith’s men will take a one-goal advantage into Tuesday’s second leg at The Hawthorns against the Baggies, who will be without Dwight Gayle after the striker saw red late on at Villa Park.

Gayle, who had earlier fired the visitors in front, was shown a second yellow card after catching Villa keeper Jed Steer on the follow through.

That was after Hourihane and Abraham, from the spot, had netted in the space of four minutes to turn the game on its head.

Analysis

Substitute Hourihane drilled home with 15 minutes remaining as Villa finally broke through an Albion defence which had been brilliantly resolute to that point.

The Baggies had taken the lead in the 16th minute through Gayle, who pounced on a mistake by Glenn Whelan, with Villa struggling to find a way through until momentum swung dramatically in the closing stages.

After Hourihane had levelled, Abraham put Villa ahead from the spot after Kieran Gibbs brought down Grealish in the box.

Gayle, who had picked up his first booking for time-wasting, was then shown a second yellow after catching Steer on the follow through, having dived to try and meet James Morrison’s cross.

It marred an excellent individual performance from the Baggies top scorer, whose absence for the second leg is arguably a bigger blow to his team than this result.

Albion, who set-up for a draw, will need to find a different approach on Tuesday.

Villa, meanwhile, will be brimming with confidence after overcoming the sternest test of their mentality yet.

Villa’s line-up was pretty much as expected with Abraham back in the team having recovered from a shoulder injury sustained during last month’s win at Bolton.

Grealish, John McGinn, Tyrone Mings and Anwar El Ghazi also returned after being rested for last Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Norwich.

Matt Phillips was something of a surprise inclusion for Albion, making his first start in more than two months.

He replaced Rekeem Harper in the team, with the teenager being left out of the squad entirely.

Villa, as expected, made a quick start and might have led inside four minutes had Whelan been able to keep down a header from McGinn’s cross, after a quick corner had caught out the Baggies.

Yet Albion had already fired warning of their threat when Steer brilliantly prevented Jay Rodriguez from putting the visitors in front on 10 minutes.

The ball fell to the striker on the edge of the box and he curled a shot which looked destined for the top corner before Steer somehow pushed it onto the bar.

Soon after, however, he would have no chance as Gayle put the visitors ahead.

Grealish’s pass for Whelan perhaps had a little too much pace but was still one which should not have troubled the Republic of Ireland international.

Instead he got only the slightest of touches as the ball squirmed through to Gayle, who raced through before finishing superbly past Steer before Axel Tuanzebe could close him down.

Villa pushed and probed for the rest of the half without forcing Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone into a serious save, their approach play lacking the poise of recent weeks.

Better came at the start of the second period but when Abraham burst into the box from the right, Johnstone saved a low effort from a tight angle with his legs.

The on loan Chelsea striker also glanced an Anwar El Ghazi cross wide as Villa ramped up the pressure.

Gayle was still causing consistent problems at the other end and Hourihane, who replaced Whelan off the bench, made a crucial intervention when he slid in to prevent him teeing up Albion substitute Jacob Murphy.

The Republic of Ireland international would make an even more telling contribution 15 minutes from time when he was the man to finally break through Albion’s defences.

A spell of possession around the Baggies box ended when Grealish teed up Hourihane 20 yards out and he drove a powerful left-footed finish into the corner with Johnstone rooted to the spot.

Four minutes later the turnaround was complete. Gibbs dived in on Grealish and referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot. Abraham sent Johnstone the wrong way for his 26th of the season.

Albion for the first time attacked in number and might have had a penalty of their own when Holgate appeared to be shoved over by Grealish. But referee Scott waved away the appeals.

Gayle then saw red to give leave the Baggies facing an even sterner task on Tuesday.

Key Moments

03 Whelan heads over a good chance after Villa catch Albion out with a short corner.

10 CROSSBAR! Steer pushes Rodriguez's curled effort onto the bar at full stretch.

15 Abraham's acrobatic effort flies over the bar.

16 GOAL ALBION! Whelan's error lets Gayle through on goal, and he drills a left-footed effort past Steer.

40 Dawson goes down and needs treatment, but he's ok to continue.

45 Mings fizzes a low shot goalwards but Johnstone holds it.

49 Adomah hits the ball into Brunt's arm from one yard away and the Holte End appeal for a penalty but nothing given.

60 Gayle trips Grealish on a yellow card but escapes a further punishment.

70 Gayle goes down clutching his face after being caught by Hourihane's arm, but nothing given.

72 Bartley's header back across goal just evades the far corner.

75 GOAL VILLA! Substitute Hourihane hits a first time effort into the far corner after Grealish lays the ball off to him.

79 GOAL VILLA! Gibbs trips Grealish in the box and Abraham converts the spot kick.

83 Albion appeal for a penalty when Holgate goes down in the box but nothing given.

88 RED CARD! Gayle shown a second yellow for catching Steer on the follow through.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Steer, Elmohamady, Tuanzebe, Mings, Taylor, McGinn, Whelan (Hourihane 67), Grealish (c), Adomah (Green 67), Abraham, El Ghazi (Kodjia 90).

Subs not used: Hause, Jedinak, Davis, Kalinic (gk).

Albion (3-5-2): Johnstone; Dawson (Mears 45), Hegazi, Bartley; Holgate, Phillips (Murphy 66), Brunt (c), Johansen (Morrison 85), Gibbs; Gayle, Rodriguez.

Subs not used: Townsend, Field, Montero, Bond (gk).