Bertrand Traore scored a late winner to help Aston Villa produce one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Premier League. Leicester, who were led by coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell after Brendan Rodgers’ resignation on Sunday, appeared to be on track for a point until disintegrating in the final 25 minutes. It started when they were reduced to 10 players in the 70th minute. Bertrand Traore curled home a superb winner for Aston Villa after latching onto Wilfried Ndidi’s loose pass after Kieran Dewsbury-Hall was sent off for a second bookable offense. Leicester also believed they had gained a penalty in injury time when Ollie Watkins was called for a handball. But, the penalty was rightfully overturned after the Villa striker was fouled by Patson Daka, compounding the Foxes’ woes.
Watkins, making his 100th Aston Villa game, put the visitors ahead in the first half with his sixth consecutive away goal in the Premier League. Leicester also responded brilliantly to falling behind, with individual brilliance from Harvey Barnes bringing the Foxes to level. Yet a lack of attention cost them yet again on Saturday when a last-gasp winner from Crystal Palace led to a 2-1 defeat that cost Rodgers his job. Leicester falls to 19th place, two points from safety, with nine Premier League games remaining. Aston Villa, who are unbeaten in six league games, climb up to the seventh place and stay in contention for a European place.
Leicester created more early chances and should have taken the lead in the 19th minute. James Maddison’s deep corner found an unmarked Harry Souttar near the back post, but his free header hit the crossbar before going out of play. Aston Villa took the lead five minutes later with their first shot on goal. Emiliano Buendia’s magnificent pass found Watkins, who was making his 100th appearance for the club, who quickly sprinted in behind the Leicester center-backs. He then calmly rolled the ball into the net, with a VAR check for offside quickly confirming the goal.
Leicester responded magnificently. Wout Faes’ beautiful ball over the top picked out Barnes’ run down the left. He sped by Ashley Young before burying the equalizer. The second half lacked the zip and energy of the first, although both teams had chances. But, the game was flipped on its head with 20 minutes remaining when Leicester was reduced to 10 players. Dewsbury-late Hall’s challenge on Young earned him a red card for a second yellow card, just moments before he was to be replaced.
Having a man advantage, Aston Villa searched for a winner, which came in the 87th minute. It was also of Leicester’s doing, as Ndidi’s sloppy pass from the back allowed Traore, who had only come on as a replacement two minutes previously, to curl a magnificent effort past Iversen. In a frenetic closing few minutes, Leicester were granted a penalty, giving them hope for a late equalizer. Watkins was given a yellow card for handball, but VAR intervened. Referee Graham Scott overruled the judgment after checking the pitchside monitor, with Watkins being barged over by Daka during the altercation.
“The most essential thing right now is to develop with each match, to be demanding, and to attempt to compete. Eventually, each match with the opponent requires adaptation,” Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said. “We did it against Chelsea on Saturday, and we did it again today because we battled in several areas with the players in transition, including Barnes, an incredible player, Maddison, and Vardy. We’re trying to be calm, not get frustrated, keep possession, and be clinical when we get into the box. Today was a great example, and we followed through.”
“We can be pleased with our performance. The lads gave it their all. It’s a difficult one to take, but we’ll learn from it, and we have to be ready for Saturday now,” Leicester interim manager Adam Sadler said. “The reaction to falling behind was favorable. We remained strong, together, and united. We scored a spectacular goal. I can only be proud of how we controlled the game at that time period.”
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