sport news Aston Villa 2-4 Leicester: Brendan Rodgers' Foxes secure first Premier League ... trends now
Leicester’s new boys breathed life into their battle for survival as the Foxes exploited some dreadful Aston Villa defending to record their first league win since November.
All three of their January signings, Victor Kristiansen, Harry Souttar and Tete, made their league debuts and while Tete scored the third goal, it was Kristiansen who produced a man-of-the-match display at left-back.
Souttar was a little less assured yet the Australia centre-back still made some crucial interceptions in the second half when Villa were piling on the pressure.
The home side twice took the lead through Ollie Watkins, the second a big deflection off Souttar, but were undone by poor defending for all four goals, with James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho, Tete and substitute Dennis Praet on target for the visitors.
There were isolated boos at full-time and Villa now face matches against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Leicester secured their first Premier League win since November at Villa Park on Saturday
Ollie Watkins was on hand to put Villa ahead early after Emi Buendia struck the crossbar
But James Maddison levelled the game for Brendan Rodgers' side just minutes later
£15m signing Harry Souttar put the ball in his own net following a cross from Watkins
This was a result few anticipated, with Unai Emery’s man having taken 16 points from a possible 21, while Leicester had just one point from their previous five matches.
And the warning signs were there for Leicester in the second minute when Leon Bailey waltzed past Kristiansen and cut the ball into the danger zone, forcing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to make a vital interception.
And despite Kristiansen’s rapid improvement, his team fell behind in the ninth minute.
Bailey found Emiliano Buendia on the edge of the box and when the Argentine’s superb curling effort hit the underside of the bar, Watkins reacted quicker than Timothy Castagne and produced a controlled finish on the volley.
Yet the home side’s lead lasted only three minutes. As Villa tried to play out from the back, Boubacar Kamara was robbed inside his own area by Dewsbury-Hall.
The ball broke to Iheanacho and when he found Maddison, the midfielder deceived Ezri Konsa before firing home. Not surprisingly, Maddison milked the moment, staring into the Villa fans with his hands to his ears.
Villa were looking more cohesive yet struggled to make their superior play count.
A clever move involving Douglas Luiz, Lucas Digne and Buendia produced a chance at the far post for Watkins, who someone fluffed his effort two yards out, and Kristiansen rescued Leicester.
Kelechi Iheanacho continued his goalscoring form to level the game heading into half-time
Brazil youth international Tete enjoyed a better afternoon than his fellow debutant, putting Leicester ahead before the break
Then after Danny Ward had
