Norwich City striker Nelson Oliveira went racing through on goal and looked certain to score.

A heavy touch gave Neil Taylor the opportunity to make a challenge and offer some sort of distraction as Villa desperately held onto a 1-0 lead.

As it happened he timed the tackle to perfection, scooping the ball away from the Portuguese forward and releasing it upfield moments before Jonathan Kodjia wrapped up the win in front of an expecting Villa Park crowd.

That was on April 1, 2017 - a date significant to Taylor because it was the first fixture he played in after an encounter which saw his name hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

It was the Wales international’s mistimed challenge on Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman that resulted in a double-leg fracture for the Everton ace.

Taylor was sent off, handed a two-match suspension and forced to deal with the backlash that inevitably follows in today’s social media world.

The 28-year-old was apologetic.

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There was no malice in the tackle. He didn’t set out to hurt his opponent.

But there was no hiding behind the fact that it was a poor challenge and one that Taylor doesn’t like looking back on for obvious reasons.

Of course Coleman came out the worse of the two with his expected return to fitness not likely until December.

But there were issues for the Villa ace, too.

Team-mate James Chester explained how Taylor was ‘deeply affected’ by the damage his tackle caused to a fellow player.

And let’s be honest, he could have easily buckled and pulled out of that challenge with Oliveira just eight days later.

Instead he stuck to what he does best and got the job done.

And what a job he has done since moving from Swansea in January.

His whole-hearted approach hasn’t changed and Taylor gets stuck in when he needs to.

Any assumption that he’s a dirty player because of one mistimed tackle should be immediately put to bed.

Neil Taylor

Since March he’s only picked up one yellow card and when available he’s one of the first names on the Villa team-sheet.

Steve Bruce could do with wrapping him up in cotton wool because there’s no obvious replacement for him if he’s injured or suspended himself.

And given his professional and competitive approach since his arrival, Villa will be needing him in times ahead.

The left-back is a part of the furniture already and has made the position his own.

He makes his international return for Wales against Moldova tonight and that will give him another boost.

But Taylor is made of strong stuff and is the type of personality Villa need to aid their promotion push this term.