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Leon Bailey has scored Villa's two fastest Premier League goals this seasonLeon Bailey had a hand in both goals as Aston Villa started the Premier League weekend with victory over a slightly unlucky Leeds.
The Jamaican winger finished off a quick counter-attack after a great run by Boubacar Kamara in just the third minute to put the hosts ahead.
That was Villa's only shot in the first half, with Leeds having two penalty appeals rejected, a Rodrigo goal disallowed for offside and missing big chances.
Villa debutant Alex Moreno denied Rodrigo with a goalline clearance and keeper Emiliano Martinez pulled off a wonderful reaction stop to deny Jack Harrison from close range.
Unai Emery's hosts were better in the second half and they got the goal to make them more comfortable - thanks to the video assistant referee.
Bailey's shot was saved by Illan Meslier with Emiliano Buendia heading the rebound over the grounded goalkeeper.
The goal was ruled out for offside but the VAR told referee Michael Oliver that Buendia was clearly onside - and it was given.
Leeds were given hope in the final 10 minutes though when Wilfried Gnonto cut the ball back for Patrick Bamford, making his return after two-and-a-half months out with a groin injury, to slam home.
But they could not find an equaliser and remain only two points above the relegation zone, with Villa eight points further up the table in 11th.
It was not a perfect night for Villa, who lost left-back Lucas Digne and striker Ollie Watkins to injury in the first half.
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Villa bounce back
This was Villa's first home win since the break for the World Cup in November - and timely after last weekend's shock FA Cup loss to Stevenage.
Veteran full-back Ashley Young was involved in most of their key moments in the game.
The goal came from a Leeds corner which Young hooked forward to Kamara, who ran half the length of the pitch before finding Bailey, whose finish was wonderful.
Moreno, a £13m signing from Real Betis on Wednesday, started on the bench but was needed within nine minutes after Digne suffered a shoulder injury.
He did well to deny Rodrigo after the striker had gone round the Villa keeper and later on Young blocked Gnonto's shot after Martinez denied Harrison.
Villa had one shot in the first half - that goal - and 10 efforts in the second half.
Their second goal had similarities to their first with Young tackling Tyler Adams in the box soon before Buendia headed in at the other end.
They had a scare after Bamford netted but Philippe Coutinho went close to making it safe with a 45-yard lob that went just over.
More to follow.
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Aston Villa
Squad number1Player nameE Martínez
Squad number18Player nameYoung
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Squad number5Player nameMings
Squad number27Player nameDigne
Squad number31Player nameBailey
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Squad number44Player nameKamara
Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Squad number10Player nameBuendía
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Squad number8Player nameSanson
Squad number9Player nameIngs
Squad number15Player nameÁlex Moreno
Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho
Leeds United
Squad number1Player nameMeslier
Squad number2Player nameAyling
Squad number5Player nameKoch
Squad number6Player nameCooper
Squad number21Player nameStruijk
Squad number8Player nameRoca
Squad number12Player nameAdams
Squad number11Player nameHarrison
Squad number7Player nameAaronson
Squad number29Player nameGnonto
Squad number19Player nameRodrigo
Squad number3Player nameFirpo
Squad number9Player nameBamford
Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
Squad number39Player nameWöber
Squad number42Player nameGreenwood
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-4-2
- 1E MartínezBooked at 90mins
- 18Young
- 4Konsa
- 5Mings
- 27DigneSubstituted forMoreno Loperaat 10'minutes
- 31Bailey
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 44KamaraBooked at 63mins
- 41J RamseySubstituted forSansonat 81'minutes
- 10BuendíaSubstituted forCoutinhoat 81'minutes
- 11WatkinsSubstituted forIngsat 32'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Sanson
- 9Ings
- 15Moreno Lopera
- 16Chambers
- 19Nakamba
- 20Bednarek
- 23Coutinho
- 25Olsen
- 72Young
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1MeslierBooked at 89mins
- 2Ayling
- 5KochBooked at 33minsSubstituted forFirpoat 88'minutes
- 6Cooper
- 21StruijkSubstituted forWöberat 66'minutes
- 8RocaSubstituted forGreenwoodat 77'minutes
- 12Adams
- 11HarrisonSubstituted forBamfordat 67'minutes
- 7AaronsonSubstituted forGelhardtat 77'minutes
- 29Gnonto
- 19Rodrigo
Substitutes
- 3Firpo
- 9Bamford
- 14Llorente
- 16Perkins
- 22Robles
- 25Kristensen
- 30Gelhardt
- 39Wöber
- 42Greenwood
Referee:Michael Oliver
Attendance:42,008
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 2, Leeds United 1.
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 2, Leeds United 1.
Offside, Leeds United. Joe Gelhardt tries a through ball, but Patrick Bamford is caught offside.
Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Liam Cooper (Leeds United).
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Tyrone Mings.
Attempt missed. Rodrigo (Leeds United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sam Greenwood with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Ashley Young (Aston Villa).
Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Morgan Sanson (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Sam Greenwood (Leeds United).
Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
Offside, Leeds United. Junior Firpo tries a through ball, but Patrick Bamford is caught offside.
Foul by Álex Moreno (Aston Villa).
Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Illan Meslier (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Illan Meslier (Leeds United).
Substitution, Leeds United. Junior Firpo replaces Robin Koch.
Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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