“Give him a knighthood”, “Don’t need a new keeper”: Some Aston Villa fans celebrate star man after 1-0 win + Match report

Swansea 0-1 Aston Villa: Nyland saves penalty at the death as Villa win

Orjan Nyland made a crucial penalty save as Aston Villa beat Swansea 1-0 to move to within three points of the Championship playoff spots.

Conor Hourihane netted the game’s only goal but Aston Villa have to thank their shot-stopper Nyland for sealing them all three points. Aston Villa just didn’t get going in the first 15 minutes. It took Bersant Celina’s shot and Mike Van der Hoorn’s header to lift the visitors and respond.

And Dean Smith’s Aston Villa responded with the game’s best chance. Tammy Abraham headed Anwar El Ghazi’s cross down to McGinn, who fired on target. But the ball hit Swansea goalkeeper Erwin Mulder and stayed out.

Before the break, a Swansea breakaway should have led to a goal, but Daniel James crossed too late for Oli McBurnie and Villa snuffed out the danger. Tammy Abraham, Yannick Bolasie and John McGinn all headed wide at the other end as both sides went into the break with the scores level.

After the break, Mulder kept out Bolasie’s deflected effort and then beat away two Hourihane free-kicks as Villa grew into the game. And as the hosts upped the ante, Swansea finally crumbled.

Full-back Hutton found space down the left and he delivered a cross which Hourihane headed home. Mulder got a hand to it but the header was powerful as it went in off the bar.

Swansea threw on Bony and Nathan Dyer as they looked for an equaliser and Van der Hoorn’s header from a corner rebounded off the post before the late penalty drama. Dyer was unnecessarily bundled over by El Ghazi and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

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Bony stepped up and slammed the ball into the palms of Nyland, who produced a fine save to send the travelling fans into wild celebrations.

After the gritty 1-0 victory at Swansea, here’s how some Aston Villa fans reacted on Twitter.