This was a rearranged time from 28th December and the 1st home game at Leeds for Jesse Marsch under the Elland Road floodlights, against a Villa team back in form.
It’s been a tough period for Leeds as they’ve lost five on the bounce, so could they finally get the winning feeling back, or would Villa make it three wins in a row?
It was at an atmospheric Elland Road.
After two minutes, the 1st Chance for Villa as Luiz clipped ball to Coutinho who pulls away to edge of box, but got volley all wrong and Leeds cleared.
Five minutes later, Three Leeds defenders backed off Ramsey who had space to drive towards Leeds area, but poor pass and ran for a Leeds goal kick.
After 11 minutes, Brilliant Villa move created space in box for Mings, who pulled back to edge of box and was picked out by Coutinho, got a shot away but Leeds blocked it.
Seven minutes later, Raphinha skipped past Mings and fired a shot just wide but was offside.
1st Aston Villa goal – deflected strike for Villa
Midway through the first half, Leeds’ woes continued as Ayling was nowhere as Digne crossed from the left, Watkins couldn’t get to it, Cash retrieved it and cut it back for Coutinho whose shot took a nick off Struijk and passed Meslier into the net.
2 minutes later, Cash’s header went over the top of the bar, but a tricky spell for Leeds.
Just after the half hour, Villa’s freekick as Luiz tried to catch Meslier out , he whipped it towards the near post, but Meslier punched clear.
A couple of set pieces for Leeds were poor.
After 41 minutes, McGinn looked to bend ball into far corner, but Meslier got down and pushed away to safety.
The last first half action was Coutinho teed Luiz up, and drilled a shot goalwards from 25 yards, hit target but again Meslier made a comfortable save.
Halftime score: Leeds United 0-1 Aston Villa
A really poor and disjointed 1st half performance for Leeds who couldn’t get the passes going and just couldn’t get going in general., could they get better 2nd half?
A minute into the 2nd half, a long ball released Raphinha, who got to the byline and cut ball back but Cash cleared.
After 53 minutes, Gelhardt tried luck from 25 yards but couldn’t get enough power on shot to trouble Martinez, who made comfortable save.
Three minutes later, Harrison with space and time in middle to spread play and kept Leeds going forward, but played a poor pass.
On the hour, a quick break by Villa as Ings picked Coutinho out, he teed McGinn up who tried to guide ball past Meslier, who made a save.
2nd A. Villa goal- too much space for Cash
With 25 minutes remaining, Leeds switched off at the back, leaving Cash in loads of space at far post, brought ball down before cutting back on his left foot and shooting past Meslier into the bottom corner.
3rd A. Villa goal- Beautiful goal for Chambers
With just over fifteen minutes remaining, Leeds failed to clear a freekick, ball dropped to Mings who laid ball back to Chambers who wrapped boot round the ball and picked out the top corner.
Five minutes later, some Leeds fans were leaving Elland Road.
Fulltime score: Leeds United 0-3 Aston Villa
A dire and terrible performance from Leeds , and the players were booed off. A sixth straight defeat for Leeds , but Villa have cruised to a third straight win.
Leeds remained in 16th due to other results going their way.
Highlights of this game are at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36D1X8USPbI
Next for Leeds is an absolutely mahoosive, must win 6 pointer game at Elland Road again as they welcome fellow relegation strugglers Norwich City on Sunday 13th March with a 2pm kickoff.
