Michael Dawson has backed Aston Villa to secure promotion via the play-offs, at the expense of Derby County.
The Nottingham Forest defender, who has been out of action since December through injury, believes Villa’s remarkable run will see them triumph at Wembley next month.
Villa were beaten at the national stadium last May, with Steve Bruce’s men beaten to promotion by Fulham in the showpiece final.
It had looked like Villa would be spending another season in the second tier, before Dean Smith inspired a remarkable run of eight straight wins, including victory at the City Ground last month.
And Dawson, speaking to talkSPORT, has backed Smith’s charges to go one better than they did last season, and join Norwich City and Leeds United in the Premier League next term, with the Whites pipping Sheffield United to automatic promotion.
“I think Leeds will complete the job. What Chris (Wilder) has done at Sheffield United has been fantastic but I fancy Leeds now.
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“They play some good football,” said the Reds defender.
The Rams are two points outside the top six with five games left, but face a pivotal trip to sixth-placed Bristol City on Saturday week, though Dawson is firmly backing Villa to continue their stunning rampage and overcome the likes of the Rams, Robins, Boro and West Brom.
“Then you’ve got the play-offs and it really is a lottery," he added.
“I just think Aston Villa, Dean Smith has gone in there and they’ve got the momentum at the right time.
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“He’s really revived them and now they’ve got Jack Grealish back, I think they’ll do it.”
