With the club having been seven points adrift in the relegation zone after a precarious first season back in The Premier League, it all came down to West Ham.
It was a game that had Villa fans become experts in algorithms, pondering every which way that a result at The London stadium could go, combined with that of Watford’s trip to Arsenal and Bournemouth facing Everton.
It was no surprise to see an outpouring of emotion (relief?!) from the players not only when Grealish scored but at full-time, after learning that the point Villa had earned was enough to retain top-flight status.
You can see The Villa Underground’s Reaction to the game, detailed Player Ratings here as well as a debunking of post-match speculation suggesting Dean Smith would get the chop here.
GREALISH REACTION
As good as Grealish’s powerful strike to give Villa the lead was his celebration, leaping into the arms of team-mates on the side-lines. There are many in this squad who have come a long way, have been through a great deal and it was great to see the raw emotion of what it meant:
AGONISING WAIT
With West Ham having equalised after a wicked deflection (ironically) off Jack Grealish, the VillaVerse had to hold it’s breath and await the result from The Emirates. Whilst Watford had been 3-0 down, they had clawed themselves back to 3-2. However, in order to stay up, they’d need to score twice in second half injury time. It was ultimately beyond them:
This is what it means. 😍 #AVFC pic.twitter.com/IaemNWWaeL
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 26, 2020
DRESSING ROOM SCENES
In images reminicent of Villa’s post playoff final celebrations, video emerged from the London Stadium of jubilant scenes.
This also included a clip of the ordinarily composed and reserved figure of Villa CEO Christian Purslow leaping around like a kid on Christmas morning:
VILLA’S STAYING UP!
Purslow 😂😂😂 #AVFC @dg_douglasluiz pic.twitter.com/KHwL8Y9bEg— Ethan Spencer (@AVFCLife) July 26, 2020
SWEET CAROLINE
A Villa success also now wouldn’t be complete without a rousing rendition of Sweet Caroline:
This group of lads deserve this feeling grinding out when everyone wrote us off well done boys 💜 pic.twitter.com/42yYHoeWMW
— Henri Lansbury (@lansburyhenri) July 26, 2020
This is what it means. 😍 #AVFC pic.twitter.com/IaemNWWaeL
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 26, 2020
REINA: LA BAMBA
I imagine that few would have woken up on Sunday morning imagining that they’d be humming La Bamba for the rest of the week.
Pepe Reina, Villa’s on loan veteran goalkeeper from AC Milan has been a charismatic and likeable figure since his arrival. Unorthodox yes, but experienced and calm behind an at times shaky defence. It remains to be seen what will become of Reina who has made it clear that he wants to play at this stage of his career. With Tom Heaton still out with a long term injury and the Premier League due to return in mid-September, this might not be the last we’ve seen of him!
The former Spanish international capped off Villa’s survival with an extrodinary exhibition of song and dance:
Pepe Reina cantando y bailando La Bamba por la salvación del Aston Villa es lo mejor que verás hoy 😄👌pic.twitter.com/bdUNhWrLYg
— SoyReferee (@SoyReferee) July 26, 2020
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Well deserved celebration defied all the odds and kept us up. Looks like Jack was in his element with his mates , so will he go ? Well pleased that our owners are standing firm on the 80 m valuation, United still angling to get him on the cheap but it ain’t going to happen and I don’t see him asking for a transfer. Well done everyone you put us through it, so let’s build on this and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Suso going is a great start.