“We’re on our way, to the Champions League, we’re on our way,” sang the Aston Villa supporters housed in a pocket of this blue bowl. There was a buoyant mood among the Villa contingent long before they recorded an eventful victory at Leicester courtesy of Amadou Onana, who profited from some invention at a first-half free-kick and a fine header by the substitute Jhon Durán in the second.
Leicester were aggrieved with the officials after they were denied a penalty three minutes into second-half stoppage time. The dates of Villa’s European ties were formalised on the morning of this game, with a trip to Young Boys first up. For now, though, focus is on the Premier League.
The advent of the set-piece coach is not for everybody although for managers they have become a vogue, if not must-have, accessory. The straggly-haired Austin MacPhee, the Scotsman who joined Villa under Dean Smith three years ago, was on the receiving end of a hearty embrace from Unai Emery after Villa opened the scoring, MacPhee the architect of Onana’s close-range strike approaching the half hour.
From a free-kick the former Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans cannoned a slick pass into the onrushing Jacob Ramsey, who piled into the 18-yard box and squared for Onana to slide in and apply a simple finish. Leicester, meanwhile, were angered at the referee, David Coote, for awarding a contentious free-kick in the first place, with Oliver Skipp booked for appearing to win the ball from behind Ollie Watkins.
If Steve Cooper was mystified by the decision to penalise Skipp, then there was plenty more frustration to follow. Watkins, who spurned a brilliant chance to open the scoring inside 94 seconds, got away with a late foul on Skipp. Perhaps it was a case of things evening out. Moments earlier the Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen caught Watkins inside the box but went unpunished. For Leicester, the most infuriating decision hinged on the referee blowing his whistle in the buildup to what would have been a Leicester equaliser on 58 minutes. A Leicester pass for Skipp struck Coote’s right boot en route to Skipp, who crossed for Jamie Vardy to apply the finish. Villa’s defence stood still in anticipation of the goal being disallowed.
Still, Emery recognised Leicester were growing in confidence, much like they did in the second half here against Tottenham in their opening game of the season, and called for Ross Barkley and Durán. Within a couple of minutes the enigmatic Durán had doubled Villa’s lead with a superb header. Lucas Digne played a one-two with Ramsey and when the former levered a cross into the box, Durán peeled off Caleb Okoli and sent a fine header spinning into the top corner. It was Durán’s second touch and one that gave the visitors a degree of breathing space.
That goal triggered a triple substitution for Leicester, Bilal El Khannouss arriving for his debut after a £20m move from Genk. Leicester grabbed a consolation goal but it was not the perfect afternoon for Villa, with Leon Bailey forced off early with an apparent hamstring injury and Facundo Buonanotte’s strike ensured homework for the Villa defence. Stephy Mavididi flew past the league debutant Lamare Bogarde, who spent last season on loan at Bristol Rovers, and stood up an inviting cross. Wilfred Ndidi towered high but could not direct his header goalwards but when the ball dropped Buonanotte made no mistake, lashing in from close range.
after newsletter promotion
Leicester were adamant they should have had a late penalty for a foul on Vardy but Coote, surrounded by several blue shirts, waved away appeals. Cooper was incensed and was booked for his protestations. Then, with four seconds of the allocated stoppage time remaining, Vardy was fouled in the box by Ezri Konsa but the offside flag proved Villa’s saviour.