While Villa are chasing promotion, Millwall are fighting desperately to avoid relegation and remain one place above the drop zone after seeing their four-game unbeaten run come to an end.

Villa, who were without 25-goal striker Tammy Abraham due to the shoulder injury he suffered in in the Good Friday win at Bolton, dominated the early exchanges and should have broken the deadlock after nine minutes.

Jack Grealish floated over a corner and Anwar El Ghazi rose at the far post but placed his header wide from six yards.

Having successfully managed to weather the Villa storm, Millwall gained a foothold in the game and were denied the lead by a stunning save from goalkeeper Jed Steer in the 15th minute.

Villa's defence opened up in front of Jed Wallace and he strode towards the penalty area before letting fly with a fierce shot from 20 yards that Steer dived at full stretch to tip away for a corner.

Millwall then had a major let-off in the 28th minute when a back pass from Ryan Leonard was intercepted by Kodjia, who was then denied by a brave challenge at his feet by goalkeeper David Martin.

But there was nothing Martin could do to stop Kodjia two minutes later when he gave Villa the lead.

Kodjia bundled the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box after El Ghazi had rolled a low cross into the penalty area.

El Ghazi then almost turned from provider to goalscorer as he stung Martin's fingers with a 38th-minute free-kick after a foul on Grealish.

Kodjia created an excellent chance to double Villa's lead 11 minutes into the second half with a weaving run into the area, only to be let down by his finishing when he dragged his shot across the face of goal.

El Ghazi then had a shot blocked, while Grealish was frustrated by Martin and had an effort deflected wide as Villa laid siege to the Millwall goal.

Martin also tipped away a fierce drive from El Ghazi in the 79th minute, turned a volley from Andre Green over the bar six minutes from time and again kept out the Dutchman as Villa continued to dominate proceedings.

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