This was another home game for Leeds United against Aston Villa, four days after Leeds comfortably beat Southampton.
Leeds were playing in white against Aston Villa who were playing in black.
Leeds started in 10th and Aston Villa started in 8th, so who would win this game and cement their top half place? Could Leeds do the double over Villa?
Keep reading to find out the result and any controversial moments.
It was played at Elland Road and the 4th game with Leeds’ new surface and the previous three have resulted in players slipping and sliding all over the place, would the same happen here?
Reference for picture: https://www.facebook.com/LeedsUnited/photo
Inside the opening 25 seconds, Leeds were straight on the attack as Bamford got into the Villa box and shot but as he shot he slipped and it inadvertently turned into a cross with Raphinha nearly getting on the end of it.
1st goal of the game
After 5 minutes, Watkins crossed for El Ghazi but Watkins slipped while crossing as well, and El Ghazi was there to slot in calmly after a good first touch. There was a VAR check for a possible offside, but El Ghazi wasn’t.
Five minutes later, Raphinha’s right footed shot from outside the box was blocked, the ball broke to Roberts whose shot was saved by Martinez.
After 13 minutes El Ghazi shot from outside the box with his left foot, but his shot was tipped over by Meslier for a corner. The first corner was headed away by Bamford, the 2nd corner came to nothing.
Six minutes later, there was nice interplay in the box by Leeds which saw Raphinha picked out and he laid the ball off to Dallas who shot wide.
At the midway point of the first half, Raphinha turned McGinn inside and out with a wonderful, waltzing run into the box, Villa scrambled it behind for a corner, from the corner Llorente headed straight at Martinez.
Three minutes later, another chance for El Ghazi as he was found on the edge of the box and his shot just went past the post. Then at the other end, Roberts was found really well by Llorente near the Villa box, but he snatched his effort well over.
With 34 minutes gone, Raphinha played a nice ball into Ayling’s feet, but Ayling lost his footing while shooting and his shot went harmlessly wide.
In the same minute, Raphinha received the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal, he dug out a brilliant pass towards the near post, which would have been a tap-in for Bamford, but Bamford just started his run too late.
After 38 minutes, Leeds corner was pulled back to Costa whose left footed shot was blocked.
Flashpoint
After 44 minutes, Watkins caught Llorente late, the defender made a meal of it, Watkins tried to help Llorente up and Llorente squared up to Watkins.
Halftime score: Leeds United 0-1 Aston Villa
So a flat first half by Leeds, whether it was down to the pitch or missing Phillips I don’t know, but they’ve been missing Phillips for a few games now. Could Leeds turn it round in the 2nd half?
After 47 minutes, Traore’s freekick was whipped in from the left towards Konsa, but Leeds got there before him.
Eight minutes later, Raphinha looked to drift inside ElMohamady to reach Cooper’s long ball but Elmohamady positioned himself perfectly to cover the run.
After 66 minutes, El Ghazi’s freekick was crossed in and Mings headed towards goal, it came off a Leeds head for a corner which came to nothing.
Two minutes later, El Ghazi exploited space behind Ayling, he was through 1 on 1 with Llorente, but instead of curling his shot to the far corner, he smashed his shot off target.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Hernandez’s shot was deflected behind for a corner, but from the corner, Klich blazed woefully over.
After 85 minutes, Bamford’s header from the centre of the box was blocked
The last meaningful action of the game came after 89 minutes as Harrison did well to power forward towards the edge of the box, he chipped an inviting ball to the back post, Raphinha got his close-range header all wrong.
Fulltime score: Leeds United 0-1 Aston Villa
So a flat, uninspiring performance from Leeds as they failed to score for the 6th time in the Premier League this season.
As for Villa, they defended well.
It means Leeds stayed in 10th place on 35 points, and Aston Villa stayed 8th on 39 points, however after the other results across the weekend, Leeds dropped a place to 11th on 35 points and Villa also dropped a place to 9th on 39 points, but Leeds are doing OK in their 1st season back in the Premier League.
Highlights of this game are at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2JplCg_Zhk
Also if you want to read the link about the reverse fixture which was a happier occasion for Leeds, here’s that link: https://danssportsblogweb.wordpress.com/2020/10/28/aston-villa-v-leeds-united-premier-league-friday-23rd-october-2020/
Next up for Leeds is another trip to the capital this time to face West Ham at the London Stadium. They have a bit of time to prepare for that one and may get a couple of players back as it’s not until Monday 8th March at 8pm.
Will Leeds’ hoodoo of not winning in London continue or will it finally end at West Ham?
