The 2017-18 campaign was a season of high ambition and ultimate heartbreak for Aston Villa as The Villans, led by manager Steve Bruce and captain John Terry, powered their way to a strong 4th-place finish in the Championship. Leading the vital promotion charge was the sensational winger Albert Adomah, whose 14 league goals provided the crucial attacking threat. Despite defeating Middlesbrough in the play-off semi-finals, the season culminated in a crushing 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Wembley, leaving the Villans agonizingly short of a return to the Premier League.