3/1 To Win
Top goalscorer Harry Wilson is looking to thrive in Monday’s high-pressure occasion as Derby County face Aston Villa in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final.
The creative attacker, on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool, has 18 goals to his name this season and has been instrumental in the Rams’ rise this season under Frank Lampard.
His recent goals have proven to be crucial.
Two strikes in additional time against Queens Park Rangers secured a valuable three points, whilst penalties against West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United have showed Wilson’s bottle in front of goal in high-pressure situations.
Big players rise to the big occasions and the 22-year-old hopes he can help the Rams finish the season with a place in the Premier League.
“It’s been a great season so far,” he told RamsTV. “When I first signed here, I wanted to try and get the club back in the Premier League and we are in a position to do so.
“It’s up to us to put in a good performance on Monday and give us the rewards after an end of a good, hard season.
“The last few games I have scored some penalties, and these are the sorts of games you want to play in.
“They are high pressure games, the stadium is full, everyone is watching, the atmosphere is bouncing and it’s up to you on the pitch to make an impact and if you get the chance, take it.
“I have been lucky enough to score two penalties in the last two games and you have to keep a cool head when you get the chance.
“I know what massive games these are for both sets of fans and players, so we will give our all on Monday to send the fans home happy. There is so much riding on the game and that’s what makes it special.
“As players, you get to play in arguably the best league in the world and for the clubs, there are massive rewards financially and for the fans, they all want their club to do well so we all know how important it is and it’s up to us to make sure we are the winning team.”
It’s set to be an electric atmosphere at Wembley Stadium on Monday.
It’s all to play for, and despite the Rams losing both league fixtures against Villa this season, Wilson believes his side can more than match their opponents.
“We are confident with the quality we have got in our team, we can go toe-to-toe with Aston Villa,” he said. “We will be focusing on ourselves on Monday and we know if we play up to the standards that we have set then we will get the job done.
“With the Play-Off Final, anything could happen. It’s a one-off game so we won’t be thinking about how the games went earlier in the season, just like we didn’t against Leeds in the Semi-Finals.
“We know both Leeds and Villa are top sides but we know we are as well so in the final, we will be doing all we can to make sure we come out on top.”
