Aston Villa cling on at West Ham to clinch Premier League survival

26 July 2020 05:19
The full-time whistle blew. One or two of the Aston Villa players let out a roar of celebration, only to be swiftly hushed by manager Dean Smith, warning them the job was still contingent on results elsewhere. For two agonising minutes, Villa’s entire playing squad and staff huddled together, awaiting news from the Emirates Stadium. Suddenly, the huddle exploded.Yes: when the smoke had finally cleared from the longest Premier League season of them all, it was Villa who were still standing. They have clung to the precipice with fraying fingernails and fraying nerves, with reserves of patience and grit perhaps even they were not quite sure they possessed. They looked doomed for much of the season. But they were not. Related: Watford relegated from Premier League as Aubameyang fires Arsenal win Related: Manchester United reach Champions League after Fernandes sinks Leicester Related: Bournemouth's victory in vain as five-year stay in top flight comes to an end Continue readingreadfullarticle

Source: TheGuardian