Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak netted the only goal of the game as Aston Villa took a big stride towards promotion with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Championship play-off.
Jedinak struck in the 15th minute with a glancing header from a Jake Grealish corner.
The win gives Villa the advantage ahead of the return leg in Birmingham at 4.45am Wednesday AEST.
If Villa succeed, they will play either Derby County or Fulham in the promotion play-off at Wembley Stadium.
Jedinak put in a full shift, selected ahead of Glenn Whelan.
Speaking about that decision, Villa boss Steve Bruce said: "Look, I felt dreadful yesterday having to tell Glenn Whelan that he wasn't in the team.
"Those are the horrible decisions you have to make as a manager sometimes. Especially because he's done so well lately.
"But I just thought Jedinak's presence was needed in there. Thankfully he's come up with a goal at the other end – that wasn't in his remit!
"He was there because Tony Pulis' team score a lot of set-pieces. He was very good all round."
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