Foxes find bite to stunt Villa resurgence

Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City side edged an incredible six-goal thriller at Villa Park, as they picked up their first Premier League victory since the World Cup break and ended a dismal run of five games without a win.

Given that these two teams had netted in each of their last seven meetings at Villa Park, it was no surprise to see both sides get on the scoresheet before the break. A strong start from the home side saw them race to an early lead, when Ollie Watkins tapped home from close range, following Emi Buendía’s curling strike that clattered the crossbar. After being in control early on, a moment of madness from the Villa defence would cost them their advantage, as a mix-up at the back eventually allowed Leicester’s star man James Maddison to slot home the leveller.

Maddison wouldn’t be the only Foxes player to find the net in an end-to-end first half, the only problem for Leicester being it was debutant Harry Souttar who inadvertently put the ball beyond teammate Danny Ward to restore Villa’s lead. However, fortunately for the Australian international, his blushes would be spared before the break, with Leicester netting twice in seven minutes to flip the game on its head. Kelechi Iheanacho struck the equaliser with a well-timed diving header, before another debutant, Tetê, rounded Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martínez in stoppage time to give the visitors an unlikely HT lead.

After a breathless first half, the second period looked as if it may follow suit, with the ever-dangerous Tetê guiding a tantalising curled effort into the side netting just one minute after the restart. In search of a moment of brilliance themselves, Villa boss Julen Lopetegui turned to Philippe Coutinho and it looked as if the Brazilian would be the man to draw them level. Netting with 18 minutes to play, the ex-Liverpool forward’s celebrations would be cut short, with an offside flag silencing Villa Park.

A fortunate reprieve, Leicester needed little invitation to push for a goal that’d no doubt put the game out of sight. It arrived after another lapse in concentration from the Villa backline, with Dennis Praet ghosting in behind and slotting home the Foxes’ fourth of a dramatic afternoon in the West Midlands. The victory takes them up into mid-table, whereas Villa, who could’ve moved into the top-half with a victory today, now sit a hefty eight points off the Premier League’s European places.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Tetê (Leicester City) — FlashScore