Aston Villa 1 Leeds United 0: Grabban books Championship play-off spot

Lewis Grabban scored the only goal of the game as Steve Bruce's Aston Villa confirmed their place in the Championship play-offs.

Aston Villa guaranteed their place in the Championship play-offs with a battling 1-0 home win over Leeds United on Friday.

Lewis Grabban scored the only goal at Villa Park as Steve Bruce's team moved to within two points of the automatic promotion places and established an unassailable cushion over seventh-place Middlesbrough.

Grabban headed Villa into the lead in the 29th minute, directing a finely floated left-wing centre from Jack Grealish back across goal to beat Leeds goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

The visitors fought back after the interval but Paul Heckingbottom's men could not find a way to beat Villa keeper Sam Johnstone, who kept a clean sheet in a home win for the third time in succession.