Aston Villa 2 Leeds 3 - Report

Early goals from Tammy Abraham and Conor Hourihane appeared to have put Dean Smith’s men on course for a statement win over promotion rivals.

But the visitors hit back in the second half with two goals in the space of five minutes through Jack Clarke and Pontus Jansson to level.

Glenn Whelan was then fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball before Kemer Roofe drilled home a stoppage time winner for the Whites.

Analysis

The former Albion man drilled home a left-footed finish following a weak clearance from Ahmed Elmohamady, who had also been at fault for Clarke’s goal which got the visitors back in the game.

It completed a stunning turnaround after Villa had led 2-0 inside just 17 minutes thanks to Abraham and Hourihane.

At times, they threatened to blow the visitors away but were ultimately made to pay for their weakness at the back as a defence missing the injured Axel Tuanzebe capitulated in the second half.

The result ended a seven-game unbeaten run for Villa and leaves them five points behind the top six and 15 adrift of Leeds, who are now back on top of the division.

The absence of Tuanzebe through injury meant a first start since October 6 for James Bree.

Jonathan Kodjia replaced Anwar El Ghazi in the only other change, while there was at least better news on the bench, with Albert Adomah and Birkir Bjarnason both back after their respective injuries.

Villa weren’t the only team with injury troubles. Patrick Bamford was absent from the Leeds squad, while the visitors were forced into a late change when former Wolves wideman Barry Douglas pulled up in the warm-up.

Hourihane once again deputised for Jack Grealish and would play a major role in Villa opening the scoring inside five minutes.

Picking the ball up 25 yards from goal, the Republic of Ireland international picked out the run of John McGinn with a neat through ball. McGinn had the option to shoot himself but instead found Abraham with the merest of touches, the striker sweeping the ball over Leeds goalkeeper Peacock-Farrell and into the net.

Villa had started like a train and just 12 minutes later Hourihane got his own name on the scoresheet to double the advantage.

Kodjia was the creator, showing sublime trickery to escape the attentions of two defenders, before finding Hourihane, who from 25 yards out let fly with a shot which flew into the net despite the slightest of touches from Peacock-Farrell.

At that point, Leeds were at very real risk of being blown away but after finally weathering the storm, they went on to finish the half the stronger team.

In truth, they should probably have reduced the deficit. But Mateusz Klich could only shoot straight at Villa keeper Orjan Nyland from the edge of the box, while both Pablo Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski sent efforts just wide.

Villa started the second half with renewed purpose and Kodjia went close to a third when he sent a shot fizzing just over the bar.

But Leeds could not be killed off and two goals in five minutes either side of the hour mark saw them turn the game on its head.

First Clarke, who had replaced Jack Harrison at the break, dragged his team back into it with his first goal for the club. Cutting in from the left, the teenager left Ahmed Elmohamady trailing before sending a finish beyond Nyland and into the far corner.

The second came from a corner, Jansson rising to nod Hernandez’s delivery into the net.

Villa, from being on top, were now in danger of crumbling and it needed a sharp save from Nyland to prevent Klich’s cross from dropping under the bar.

The hosts were then given a huge let-off when Whelan handled in his own box, only for referee Andrew Madley to miss it.

Into the final 10 minutes, Nyland denied Alioski with a sharp save but a draw looked likely before Roofe struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Key Moments

5 - GOAL Tammy Abraham gives Villa the perfect start, lifting a finish over Leeds goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell after excellent work by Conor Hourihane and John McGinn.

17 - GOAL Conor Hourihane doubles Villa’s advantage, firing home from outside the box after fine work by Jonathan Kodjia.

56 GOAL Substitute Jack Clarke brings Leeds back into it, beating Ahmed Elmohamady before sending a shot into the far corner.

61 GOAL Leeds level. Pablo Hernandez swings in a corner and Pontus Jansson heads home from close range.

90+4 GOAL Kemar Roofe wins it for Leeds, in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Nyland, Elmohamady, Bree, Chester, Hutton, McGinn, Whelan (Bjarnason 73), Hourihane, Bolasie (Hogan 83), Abraham, Kodjia (El Ghazi 62) Subs not used: Davis, Adomah, Revan, Bunn (gk).

Leeds (4-1-4-1): Peacock-Farrell, Ayling, Jansson, Phillips, Davis (Shackleton 77), Forshaw, Hernandez, Harrison (Clarke HT), Klich, Alioski, Roofe Subs not used: Baker, Halme, Gotts, Huffer (gk).