Mile Jedinak headed Aston Villa a step closer to the Premier League as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the first leg of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final.
The Australian's deft 15th-minute finish handed the visitors a crucial lead to take into Tuesday night's return fixture at Villa Park, and Robert Snodgrass would have added a second on the stroke of half-time but for a fine fingertip save from Darren Randolph.
Boro fought to the bitter end for an equaliser in front of a passionate crowd of 29,233 at the Riverside Stadium, but were largely unable to summon up the craft they needed, despite goalkeeper Sam Johnstone's late save from substitute Fabio.
Jedinak's header puts Villa in driving seat
