31 August 2024
Leicester City 1 Aston Villa 2
It was a Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium as newly-promoted Leicester City looked for their first win of the new campaign. They were unbeaten at home so far after getting a draw against Tottenham, making them pay for missing a host of chances in a game they dominated. Unai Emery’s side were looking to bounce back from a home defeat against Arsenal last weekend.
Ex-Leicester City midfielder, Youri Tielemans, was booed whenever he touched the ball for the visitors. He almost made the haters pay when he skipped past his marker in the middle of the park and threaded it through to Watkins. He tried to take it around Hermansen but the keeper got a hand to the ball and a knee to the head for his troubles.
Foxes’ defender Faes has a bit of the David Luiz about him. Not only is he a ringer for the former Chelsea defender, is dangerous from attacking set pieces, but he also has that self-destruct button to his game too. He gave the ball away and Watkins was through on goal again. Only a fantastic save from Hermansen was to deny him at full-stretch.
All of the newly-promoted teams seem to be buying in to the new regime of taking goal kicks like it is a five-a-side game. Whether they have the technical ability to carry it out is severely questionable. The Foxes’ keeper almost got himself into trouble but fortunately managed to clear before Watkins was able to tap the ball into the goal. Heart in mouth moment for the Danish keeper.
Leicester City continued to create their own problems by giving the ball away. Ramsey got to the byline and crossed the ball, with Onana sliding in to convert in the middle of the goal. You could see this coming as The Foxes’ were struggling to get the ball out of their own half. Aston Villa had looked far the better team in these early exchanges.
Ramsey was seizing his chance after being brought on as an early substitute following an injury to Bailey. He was dropping into pockets of space between the Leicester midfield and defence, enjoying the run of the park. With no one willing to challenge him, he got a shot off at goal that seemed to be heading into the bottom corner until Hermansen got down well to turn it behind for a corner.
Into the second half and the hosts started to exert some pressure. The Foxes came forward as a pass struck the heels of the referee and set Winks through. He squared it to Vardy, who put his shot into the bottom corner. However, the referee had already blown his whistle due to his intervention. Steve Cooper was livid on the touchline but it was the correct decision as per the rules.
Barkley then found Digne, who played the ball to Ramsey in the box. He got to the byline and cut the ball back across the goal, but there was no Aston Villa player there to convert. This is mainly due to the fact that Ollie Watkins had been substituted moments earlier. Frustrating for the travelling fans who were hoping to see their side double their lead.
However, they did not have to wait long as Digne clipped a cross into the box. This time Duran did decide to get into the box and his well-directed header beat Hermansen and gave Villa the second goal they had been craving. Despite dominating this game, they saw what happened to Tottenham when they did not take their chances at the King Power Stadium.
However, The Foxes did manage to find themselves a lifeline when a cross into the box threatened. Ndidi tried to head it towards goal but the effort looped into the air behind him. Buonanotte was lurking and struck a fierce volley into the goal as the ground erupted into a cauldron of noise. There was still enough time for Cooper’s side to turn this one around.
Leicester struggled to break down Unai Emery’s side. As a free-kick was lifted towards the box, Vardy tried to get there before Tielemans and ended in a heap on the floor, rolling around in pain seemingly. The Foxes’ players surrounded the referee demanding a penalty. The replay showed that the Aston Villa man had got a touch to the ball and it was a good decision.
Aston Villa held on for the three points to take them up to seventh in the table. After defeat in their last game it was important that Emery’s side got back to winning ways. They will soon have the distraction of Champions League football to contend with and getting league wins will be imperative to try and secure a top-four finish once again.
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