Aston Villa have built up a solid advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie over Club Brugge.
The Villans ran out 3-1 winners in Tuesday’s first leg in Belgium, courtesy of goals from Leon Bailey, Brandon Mechele and Marco Asensio.
Aston Villa opened the scoring on three minutes as Bailey fired into the far corner of the net after Tyrone Mings headed a free kick back across goal.
However, Brugge equalised in the 12th minute through Maxim De Cuyper after some poor defending from Unai Emery’s side.
The Champions League game remained at 1-1 until the 84th minute, when Mechele diverted a Morgan Rogers delivery into his own net.
Then, two minutes later, Matty Cash won a penalty that Asensio converted for his fifth goal in claret and blue.
One moment in particular from the team in claret and blue stunned Ally McCoist, who was commentating on the game on TNT Sports.
Ally McCoist stunned by Tyrone Mings goalline clearance in Aston Villa win over Club Brugge
In the 69th minute of the game, Hans Vanaken’s effort towards goal was nudged just out of play by Mings’ impressive goalline clearance.
Mings got the slightest of touches on the ball – indeed, the commentators needed to watch it a few times on the replay before spotting the Villa man’s connection.
“By the way, I think that’s the save of the season from Tyrone Mings,” McCoist said.
Fellow commentator Darren Fletcher said in response: “I think it is. I think it is.”
After another replay confirmed that Mings had indeed touched the ball, McCoist said: “Ohhhh! That’s the save of the season! How does?! That’s unbelievable!”
Fletcher added : “I tell you what, he’s made amends for picking the ball up when they came here in the league phase and giving the away the penalty.”
Villa fans also loved Mings’ clearance as they spoke of his “redemption arc” after his error in the group-stage game between the Villans and Brugge.
How Tyrone Mings fared for Aston Villa against Club Brugge
Mings’ key moments from the game were his assist for Bailey’s opener and that amazing goalline clearance to keep the score at 1-1.
However, the £20million man delivered a strong display overall, winning all of his duels and registering an impressive seven clearances, plus one tackle.
| Clearances | 7 |
| Total tackles | 1 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
| Ground duels (won) | 1 (1) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 2 (2) |
| Touches | 72 |
| Accurate passes | 54/64 (84%) |
Mings also made seven passes into the final third and made two recoveries in the match.
It was a great day at the office for Mings, whose efforts have helped Villa take a big step towards the last eight of the Champions League.
Villa are next in action on Saturday when they head to Brentford in the Premier League, before hosting Brugge for their last-16 second leg next Wednesday.
