Leicester City vs Aston Villa. Premier League.
The King Power StadiumAttendance32,087.
Match report and free match highlights as Ollie Watkins scores his sixth goal in six successive away games to put Aston Villa ahead; Harvey Barnes' superb strike saw Leicester level; Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was sent off after two yellow cards; Bertrand Traore fires home late winner
Wednesday 5 April 2023 07:59, UK
A late strike from Bertrand Traore saw Aston Villa to a dramatic 2-1 win against managerless Leicester, who are now two points from Premier League safety.
Leicester - who were under the charge of coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell following the departure of Brendan Rodgers on Sunday - looked to be on course for a point before unravelling in the final 25 minutes.
It began as they went down to 10 players in the 70th minute. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was sent off for a second bookable offence, before Bertrand Traore curled home a beautiful winner for Aston Villa after latching onto Wilfried Ndidi's slack pass.
Leicester thought they had won a penalty in injury time too as Ollie Watkins was penalised for handball. But the spot kick was correctly overturned after the Villa striker was fouled by Patson Daka, adding to the Foxes misfortune.
It was the in-form Watkins - making his 100th Aston Villa appearance - who saw the visitors ahead in the first half as he rolled home his sixth successive away goal in the Premier League.
Leicester reacted well to going behind too with some individual brilliance from Harvey Barnes seeing the Foxes level. But a lack of concentration cost them once again after a last-gasp winner from Crystal Palace on Saturday also saw them to a 2-1 defeat that ultimately cost Rodgers his job.
The result sees Leicester slip into 19th place, two points from safety with nine Premier League games to play. Aston Villa - who are unbeaten in six league matches - move up to seventh place and remain in the hunt for a European spot next season.
After the game, Unai Emery admitted Villa are in a race for Europe, telling Sky Sports: "With those three points we can add a new target in the near future to try and fight with the teams who are trying to be in Europe next year.
"It's going to be very, very difficult because they are Chelsea, Liverpool and Brighton, who are playing very well, but we are now with them and we're going to try to be competitive in the matches ahead.
Leicester had the better early chances, and should have gone ahead in the 19th minute. James Maddison's deep corner found a completely unmarked Harry Souttar towards the back post, but his free header hit the woodwork before going out of play.
Five minutes later and Aston Villa went ahead with their first shot on target. It was a sumptuous pass from Emiliano Buendia for Watkins - the former also making his 100th appearance for the club - who easily ran in behind the Leicester centre-backs. He then coolly rolled the ball home, with a VAR check for offside soon confirming the goal.
Leicester hit back in superb style. It was a sublime ball over the top from Wout Faes that picked out Barnes' run down the left. He zoomed past Ashley Young before slamming home the equaliser.
The second half largely lacked the zip and excitement of the first, but there were openings for both sides. However, the match turned on its head with 20 minutes to play as Leicester went down to 10 players.
It was a late challenge from Dewsbury-Hall on Young that saw him pick up a red card for a second yellow - just moments before he was due to be substituted.
With the extra player advantage, Aston Villa probed for a winner - which finally arrived in the 87th minute. It was of Leicester's own making too as Ndidi's poor pass from the back allowed Traore to curl a stunning strike past Iversen, having only come on as a substitute two minutes before.
There was a glimmer of hope for a late Leicester equaliser too as they were awarded a penalty in a frantic final few minutes. Watkins was penalised for handball and shown a yellow card, but VAR intervened. After consulting the pitchside monitor, referee Graham Scott overturned the decision and rescinded the booking, with Watkins having been barged over by Daka in the melee.
It was another blow for a side in desperate need for things to fall their way, with Leicester now having nine more games to save themselves from Premier League relegation.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery:
"The most important thing now is to improve each match, be demanding and try to be competitive. Eventually adapting each match with the opponent. We did it on Saturday against Chelsea and we did it today as well because we struggled in some moments with the players in the transition and Barnes, an amazing player, Maddison and Vardy.
"We are trying to be consistent in our mind, not frustrated, keep possession and trying to be clinical when we get in the box. Today was a very good example and we did it."
On Ollie Watkins: "Brilliant, but not only scoring but his work very day. He is very demanding himself, practicing every day, trying to add more minutes practicing and work with video analysis. We can improve him. He defends very well, makes assists, his other characteristics, not only scoring, are very important."
Leicester co-interim coach Adam Sadler:
"We can be proud of the performance. The lads put everything into it. It is a difficult one to take but we'll learn from that and we've got to get prepared now for Saturday.
"The response to going behind was positive. We stayed strong, together, united. We scored a fantastic goal. In terms of how we managed the game in that period, I can only be proud of that."
On Dewsbury-Hall red card: "That happens in the game, we can't do much about that. Kiernan is a competitive player, he's gone off of his feet. I haven't seen it back to give you my full opinion on that but I'm sure Kiernan will look at it. These things can happen and we have to try and respond to that in the moment which for the majority of that period without him we showed a real fighting spirit and that's all you can do."
On the winning goal: "It was a fantastic finish. At that point in the game we're defending low on the pitch and we're trying to defend our box with everything we've got. It was a slightly loose pass that got away and it was a fantastic finish. We have to give credit where it's due."
Have you spoken to the chairman? "No, nothing. I've just come off the pitch and spoke to the players and come straight in to see you guys so that's where we're at right now."
Leicester face a crucial clash against relegation rivals Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium on Saturday; kick-off 3pm.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest, also on Saturday; kick-off 3pm.
April 8: Bournemouth (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 15: Man City (A) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports
April 22: Wolves (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 25: Leeds (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm
May 1: Everton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 8: Fulham (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 13: Liverpool (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Newcastle (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: West Ham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
April 4: Leicester (A) - Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
April 8: Nottingham Forest (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 15: Newcastle (H) - Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm
April 22: Brentford (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 25: Fulham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
April 30: Man Utd (A) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 6: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 13: Tottenham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Liverpool (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
