A lot can change in a year in football and Aston Villa provided a clear demonstration of that on Monday afternoon in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final.

This time last year, a loss to Fulham was threatening the club's financial future as well as putting serious question marks over the career paths of several key players.

Now, though, after a 2-1 win over Derby, they're heading back to the Premier League and in no small part thanks to components that made up their 2018 summer of change.

Starting the game the better of the two, Villa had more of the possession in a final that started quickly and was punctuated by early fouls.

Jack Grealish fired over after a Kelle Roos mistake inside the first ten minutes, whilst Anwar El Ghazi was looking ready to make an impression few would have predicted for him at the start of this campaign.

Taking time to adapt at Villa, the winger certainly looked at home here. Flying forwards and driving into the box often, leaving Derby often needing to make last-ditch challenges.

Eventually, he got his goal.

A fine ball from Ahmed Elmohamady found a diving El Ghazi to convert - this coming after Derby had enjoyed some growth into the match and just before half-time.

The second half began with neither willing to give an inch.

A flurry of fouls were given by referee Paul Tierney until, at the hour mark, John McGinn - another arrival last summer - beat Kelle Roos to bundle home a looping ball from a deflected El Ghazi effort.

Villa were in control, and Frank Lampard needed to let the Rams off of the leash - quickly bringing Jack Marriott on for Tom Huddlestone.

Now, Derby were beginning to build real momentum and with Martyn Waghorn soon on the pitch, too, they were looking a different animal.

Chances were coming, Harry Wilson fired over whilst Jayden Bogle lashed wide - eventually, the pressure had to tell.

And, it did.

Into the final 10 minutes with Tyrone Mings stricken on the floor, Jack Marriott swivelled and Martyn Waghorn got a touch on his goal-bound effort - would Lampard rue not playing them from the start or, indeed, not having them on earlier?

He would.

Derby were finally playing how we knew they could but, even with seven minutes of injury time, they could not force things through one more time.

They had chances but Villa just about held firm and, in truth, were good value for their win.

Lampard may feel he could have been a tad more adventurous with his team selection but, against a resurgent Villa side packed with attacking quality, you could also understand his initial approach.

Dean Smith, meanwhile, achieved exactly what he was appointed to do.

The boyhood Villan has restored his club back to the Premier League, getting the best out of several Steve Bruce signings along the way.

Expect more changes this summer, then, but without the initial period of concern and self-doubt. With this promotion, Villa could well keep a number of players that have got them here, and that bodes well for a potentially exciting new era back in the top flight.