Championship play-off final: Aston Villa 0 Fulham 1 - Player ratings

Sam Johnstone

Sensed danger early on, when he rushed out quickly to beat Ryan Sessegnon, and was left one-on-one with Tom Cairney for the goal.

But his kicking was nervy, and put Villa under pressure. 5/10

Alan Hutton

Confident enough to take on Aboubakar Kamara, but was caught out of position for the Cairney goal and too many attacks came down his flank. 4/10

James Chester

Picked up an early booking for a foul on Aleksandar Mitrovic, but made some crucial interventions after that that kept Villa in the game. 8/10

John Terry

Caught flat-footed for the Cairney goal. He looked sluggish at times, and uncomfortable on the ball at others. 5/10

Ahmed Elmohamady

Struggled to get close to Sessegnon, but didn’t make any glaring errors. 6/10

Mile Jedinak

Plenty of bite in the tackle, but couldn’t to get to grips with Cairney in the first half. In the second half, he let too many men run past him. 5/10

Conor Hourihane

Was pushed to the floor just inside the penalty area, but the referee waved away the appeals and was then forced off in the second half with injury. 6/10

Albert Adomah

Wasted his opportunities in the first half and too many of Fulham’s attacks were coming down his flank. But started the second half much better and set up some important chances. Curled a cross on to Grealish’s head and nearly did the same for Robert Snodgrass. 7/10

Robert Snodgrass

Looked dangerous early on when he drifted in off the right wing and nearly slipped Adomah though. Screwed a shot wide after a Grealish backheel. Repaid the favour with a clever chipped free-kick, but didn’t test Marcus Bettinelli. 6/10

Jack Grealish

Everything went through him – the good, the bad and the ugly. Was kicked from pillar to post, created all of Villa’s best chances, and nearly scored a wonder-goal himself.

Guilty of letting Cairney go in the build-up to the goal and nearly saw red when he lost his temper, but needed far more support from his team-mates. By far the brightest spark. 8/10

Lewis Grabban

Was left far too isolated in the first half. Held the ball up well with his back to goal, but looked tentative when he had found himself with space to run at defenders. Lost out to Tim Ream in the air. 6/10

Substitutes

Jonathan Kodjia (Elmohamady 77)

Was no danger to the Fulham goal. 5/10

Josh Oomah (Jedinak 77)

Showed quick feet on the byline to set up a late chance. 5/10

Scott Hogan (Hourihane 80)

Put a header wide late on. 5/10

Unused: Whelan, Bree, Bjarnason, Bunn.