On a fevered night in the second city, Aston Villa surged to Wembley. Anyone in doubt as to the value of the English cup competitions should have been here.
Becalmed and befuddled in the Premier League, Dean Smith’s Villa were resolute, energetic and, crucially, clinical to see off Midlands rivals who were odds-on with some bookmakers to make the final before this game even began.
This was a thrilling game of football, illuminated by individual performances of the highest quality. If Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland plays like he did here in the final then Manchester City – if that is who it’s to be – will need to come with everything they have.