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Aston Villa 1-2 Leicester City: James Maddison and Harvey Barnes give visitors win

By Josef RindlBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments297

James Maddison nets Leicester's opener
James Maddison has now scored 11 goals in all competitions for Leicester this season

James Maddison and Harvey Barnes scored as Leicester City edged out an Aston Villa side missing the injured Jack Grealish.

Maddison found the net inside the opening 20 minutes, side-footing the ball into the far corner.

Moments later, Barnes was on hand to strike home a rebound, giving the Foxes a deserved two-goal lead.

Villa lacked creativity without captain Grealish - who has a leg injury that is set to keep him out for around a month - but were given a lifeline when Bertrand Traore volleyed home a loose ball.

The hosts struggled to create further openings as Leicester held on to go second in the Premier League, three points clear of Manchester United, who host Newcastle later on Sunday (19:00 GMT).

Maddison and Barnes continue to impress

With England manager Gareth Southgate watching on, English duo Maddison and Barnes barely put a foot wrong for Leicester in the first half.

Maddison, 24, had been involved in eight goals in his past nine league appearances coming into this fixture, and it took him just 19 minutes to curl Leicester in front after a lay-off from Barnes.

And Barnes was then in the right place moments later, tapping in after Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez parried a close-range Jamie Vardy effort.

Maddison was substituted midway through the second half after a minor knock to his hip.

But Barnes continued to orchestrate from midfield, playing through Vardy who fired a dangerous effort across the face of goal late on.

Banner of Jack Grealish at Villa Park
England international Jack Grealish missed a league game for Dean Smith's side for the first time in 15 months

Villa toothless without injured Grealish

For the first time since November 2019, club captain Jack Grealish was not in the Aston Villa squad for a Premier League match.

"He had some discomfort in training this week. At the end of the week, we decided he wasn't right to play," Villa boss Dean Smith told Sky Sports before the game.

Nobody has been involved in more Villa goals than Grealish this season, and without their captain, Smith's side looked a shadow of their usual selves in the first half.

Forward Traore halved the deficit three minutes after the restart, pouncing on a loose ball after Matt Targett's cross was flicked on by John McGinn.

But Leicester easily wrestled back control, with a late Tyrone Mings header the only other chance of note for the hosts.

Grealish had started Villa's previous 48 league fixtures - but they must learn to adapt to life without him for the next few games.

More Villa Park joy for Rodgers - the stats

  • Leicester City have won back-to-back away top-flight matches against Aston Villa for the first time since October 1960.
  • Aston Villa have won just one of their past 21 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top three (D4 L16), losing 11 of their past 12 such fixtures (W1).
  • Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has won all six of his away Premier League games against Aston Villa as a manager, his best such 100% record versus an opponent in the competition.
  • Under Dean Smith, Aston Villa have averaged 1.5 points per game in league competition when Jack Grealish has featured (P80 W36 D14 L30) compared with 0.9 points per game without him (P18 W3 D7 L8), losing all three Premier League matches without the Englishman since the start of last season.
  • Since his Premier League debut in August 2018, Leicester's James Maddison has scored more goals from outside the area than any other player (11). This was his eighth league goal of the season, his best scoring campaign in the top flight.
  • Only Jamie Vardy (14) has scored more goals for Leicester this season than Harvey Barnes (13), who has now had a direct hand in nine goals in his past 11 Premier League matches (six goals, three assists).

What's next?

Aston Villa travel to Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday, 27 February (17:30 GMT), while Leicester take on Slavia Prague in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday, 25 February (20:00 GMT).

Player of the match

BarnesHarvey Barnes

with an average of 8.41

Aston Villa

  1. Squad number26Player nameMartínez
    Average rating

    5.63

  2. Squad number11Player nameWatkins
    Average rating

    5.63

  3. Squad number15Player nameTraoré
    Average rating

    5.49

  4. Squad number18Player nameTargett
    Average rating

    5.45

  5. Squad number5Player nameMings
    Average rating

    5.21

  6. Squad number4Player nameKonsa
    Average rating

    5.05

  7. Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
    Average rating

    4.83

  8. Squad number41Player nameRamsey
    Average rating

    4.82

  9. Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
    Average rating

    4.77

  10. Squad number25Player nameSanson
    Average rating

    4.71

  11. Squad number17Player nameTrézéguet
    Average rating

    4.63

  12. Squad number27Player nameAhmed El Mohamady
    Average rating

    4.62

  13. Squad number21Player nameEl Ghazi
    Average rating

    4.37

  14. Squad number20Player nameBarkley
    Average rating

    4.03

Leicester City

  1. Squad number15Player nameBarnes
    Average rating

    8.41

  2. Squad number10Player nameMaddison
    Average rating

    8.03

  3. Squad number33Player nameThomas
    Average rating

    7.51

  4. Squad number8Player nameTielemans
    Average rating

    7.29

  5. Squad number25Player nameNdidi
    Average rating

    7.27

  6. Squad number27Player nameCastagne
    Average rating

    7.21

  7. Squad number21Player nameRicardo Pereira
    Average rating

    7.21

  8. Squad number4Player nameSöyüncü
    Average rating

    7.19

  9. Squad number9Player nameVardy
    Average rating

    7.14

  10. Squad number6Player nameEvans
    Average rating

    7.14

  11. Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
    Average rating

    6.79

  12. Squad number24Player nameMendy
    Average rating

    6.52

  13. Squad number18Player nameAmartey
    Average rating

    6.33

  14. Squad number20Player nameChoudhury
    Average rating

    6.14

Line-ups

Aston Villa

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 26Martínez
  • 27El MohamadyBooked at 59mins
  • 4Konsa
  • 5Mings
  • 18Targett
  • 6Douglas LuizBooked at 51minsSubstituted forSansonat 81'minutes
  • 7McGinn
  • 15Traoré
  • 20BarkleySubstituted forRamseyat 76'minutes
  • 21El GhaziSubstituted forTrézéguetat 67'minutes
  • 11Watkins

Substitutes

  • 1Heaton
  • 3Taylor
  • 17Trézéguet
  • 19Nakamba
  • 25Sanson
  • 39Davis
  • 41Ramsey
  • 60Chukwuemeka
  • 62Hayden

Leicester

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 27Castagne
  • 6Evans
  • 4Söyüncü
  • 33Thomas
  • 8TielemansSubstituted forChoudhuryat 88'minutes
  • 25NdidiBooked at 34mins
  • 21Ricardo PereiraSubstituted forAmarteyat 76'minutes
  • 10MaddisonSubstituted forMendyat 64'minutes
  • 15Barnes
  • 9Vardy

Substitutes

  • 11Albrighton
  • 12Ward
  • 14Iheanacho
  • 18Amartey
  • 19Ünder
  • 20Choudhury
  • 24Mendy
  • 28Fuchs
  • 46Daley-Campbell
Referee:
Michael Oliver

Match Stats

Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamLeicester
Possession
Home50%
Away50%
Shots
Home11
Away16
Shots on Target
Home2
Away7
Corners
Home7
Away8
Fouls
Home11
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Leicester City 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Leicester City 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ahmed El Mohamady with a cross.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Luke Thomas (Leicester City).

  5. Post update

    Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).

  7. Post update

    Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Timothy Castagne.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).

  11. Post update

    Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Targett with a headed pass.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Hamza Choudhury replaces Youri Tielemans.

  14. Post update

    Çaglar Söyüncü (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

  16. Post update

    Foul by Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City).

  17. Post update

    Trézéguet (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Trézéguet (Aston Villa).

  20. Post update

    Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Tyrone Mings.

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Comments

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296 comments

  • Well done LCFC, keep it up.

    To Sky, BBC and the rest of MSM.
    Delighted to say your self serving Big 6 is in tatters.

    On behalf of the rest of English football.

    • King_Power replied:
      Here, Here!

  • Great result Leicester, well played. Let's hope your boys finish above Man Utd as you deserve to.

    • Dudley Perkins replied:
      So its about finishing above Man U, not about winning the league?

      Says a lot about you

  • Barkley reminds me of Sunday morning football when you'd come up against a guy that thought he could play a bit when he was younger, but is now unfit, over weight, hasn't played for 5 years and probably had 10 pints last night. And he'll probably ache tomorrow morning...

    • Stephen replied:
      Could be why he keeps getting moved on as he ultimately gets found out by managers as having some talent but is too lazy to keep delivering?

  • Great weekend for teams outside the so called ‘Top 6’. Well done to Everton and Leicester, let’s keep sticking it to these overblown prima-donna teams with glory hunting fan bases. From a Hammers fan ⚒

    • Wombat_LCFC replied:
      Agreed... it's good for football to see Foxes, Hammers & Toffees rubbing their glory hunting opposition eat some Humble Pie this weekend

  • Grealish was sorely missed today.....Apparently he injured his leg attempting to put on his diving suit. Tragic!

    • PDPJPR replied:
      Muddiest knees in football

  • It was a nervy finish but a sensational first half was enough for the points. I thought Luke Thomas was brilliant today, his progression from the end of last season is phenomenal, credit to the coaching at the club.

    • Spilled-wine-on-costly-sofa replied:
      Leicester will still finish 5th in a 4-horse race.

  • Barnes for England

    • Wombat_LCFC replied:
      Fortunately there were no Villa fans at the game stupidly booing the ex-Baggies Barnes and Jonny Evans (who were excellent today)

  • Well done LCFC.

    As a Villa fan I'm becoming concerned that we are a one trick pony tactically and our players need 45mins to realise we game has started.

    But role on 40 points.

    • King_Power replied:
      Still a huge progression from last year if you can finish in the top 10. I do rate Dean Smith, good luck for the rest of the season!

  • This weekend 2 years ago we were below Preston Derby Forest and, shamefully, Birmingham in the league! We're currently above 5 of last season's top 10 and we'll have to play a lot better to stay there but it's still work in progress. Leicester were the better side obviously and I see no reason why they cant finish in the top 3. We missed Jack but most clubs ex Man City miss their star players

    • truckered1959 replied:
      As a Foxes fan I will be surprised if Villa don’t finish top 6. It’s good to see the Midlands teams up there.

  • Luke Thomas excellent again. We keep finding em don't we?

  • Good game for the neutral. Hope Leicester get 2nd

  • Great result well done 🦊 foxes.

  • Best team in the Midlands by far.

    • Jonny_boy replied:
      This season, yes. The big challenge will be holding on to the young talent when the usual suspects come sniffing around.

  • Well played Leicester. Villa at least have them a game in the second half!! Obviously we will miss Jack. But we didn't get steam rolled. I want Dean Smith to bench Barkley..no heart or desire. On to Leeds..utv

    • Mustard Custard replied:
      Everyone except Smith wants Barkley benched. Back at Chelsea if possible

  • Thoroughly deserved win for Leicester , felt villa needed to freshen up the squad, improved second half from villa, again theref couldn’t differentiate between bad foulsand at times not even fouls. Schmeichals behaviour was poor. And hinchcliffe awful summariser, talks too much and most of it nonsense. Hopefully Leicester qualify for the champions league. Villa top 10 finish great .

    • CrispManStig replied:
      I'm told Schmeichel was not happy about having his testicles grabbed by Traore! I don't blame him.

  • Good on you Leicester...

  • Well done Leicester and Brendan Rogers, miles in front of Lfc the club that stabbed you in the back, long may it continue

    • steve m replied:
      Yeah really been on a downer since BR left ...premier league..champions league ...world champions ....need i go on ?

  • Our lack of squad depth was exposed today. It does beg the question of why let Freddie go out on loan to Strasbourg, and obviously Jack is irreplaceable.

    Still, we stayed competitive with a better all round performance, and we have a series of more winnable games coming up.

    Well played Leicester.

    UTV

  • Yet again Smith gets it wrong tactically.
    We need more strength in midfield. How does Barkley get on the pitch, he's been poor since October.If Grealish is out for a month Smith needs to change the system

    • Wombat_LCFC replied:
      Trouble with Barkley, is he had one good game & scored about 6-weeks ago..…….. since then, he went back into his shell. Did nothing all game without him mate Jack helping him shine.
      Maybe you should sign Mark Albrighton ?

  • Villa pushed towards the end without really creating, certainly see where they miss grealish... great first half from us, just got stung early second and we did well to stay strong and get the win

As It Stands

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City25185250153559
2Leicester25154644271749
3Man Utd24137450311946
4West Ham25136639291045
5Chelsea25127641251643
6Liverpool25117745341140
7Everton2412483733440
8Aston Villa23113937261136
9Tottenham24106837271036
10Arsenal25104113126534
11Wolves2596102632-633
12Leeds24102124043-332
13Southampton2486103140-930
14Crystal Palace2485112742-1529
15Burnley2577111830-1228
16Brighton2451182530-526
17Newcastle2474132540-1525
18Fulham25410112132-1122
19West Brom2528151955-3614
20Sheff Utd2532201541-2611
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