Foxes beat Midlands rivals in bonkers six-goal thriller to ease relegation woes
LEICESTER CITY celebrated their first win since the World Cup to burst Unai Emery’s bubble as they came out on top of a bonkers six-goal encounter.
Brendan Rodgers’ men dug deep, coming from behind twice, to stun the home side and ease the pressure on themselves as they moved away from the danger zone.
In a sensational Midlands derby, which seemed more like a basketball match at times, the Foxes proved Rodgers’ was right when he claimed he needed new blood to perk up his tired squad.
He handed Premier League debuts to three of his players and was rewarded when one of them, Brazilian winger Tete gave them a crucial half-time lead on his debut, before Dennis Praet finished off Villa near the end.
It was only Emery’s second Premier defeat since replacing Steven Gerrard and the Spaniard will look back in horror at some suicidal defending by his team.
If you were a faint-hearted fan then this probably wasn’t a very pleasant way to spend your afternoon!
There were more scrapes and close shaves than you’ll find at your local Turkish barbers as both defences diced with disaster in front of a couple of very concerned ‘keepers.
For the rest of us though, it was quite simply magical.
Those fortunate enough to be at Villa Park here witnessed 90 minutes full of delightful mayhem as play raged from one end to the other from first whistle to last.
However Unai Emery and Brendan Rodgers must have been watching much of the action through the cracks in their fingers.
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The rival pair may be two of the most accomplished and decorated coaches in the Premier League, but their best-laid plans were ripped apart during a bonkers first-half.
By the time spoilsport referee Darren England blew his whistle to end an incredible first 45 minutes we had been treated to FIVE goals, a couple of smacked crossbars and incredible near things
All spiced up by some suicidal defending from defenders who had taken leave of their senses at times.
Villa raced out of the traps with the confidence of a team who had won five of their first seven games under new boss Emery.
Leon Bailey, who looked razor-sharp throughout, made a positive run at Leicester’s new Danish left-back Victor Kristiansen and sent in a low cross to pick out Jacob Ramsey.
However the ball skipped off Ollie Watkins en route to deny his teammate an early scoring opportunity.
Bailey then whipped in a wicked delivery from a short free-kick but this time it was Kristiansen who provided the clearing touch to deny Ramsey.
However, Villa have made a habit of scoring early goals under Emery and Bailey made sure they got off to a flyer here as they seized the lead after nine minutes.
Bailey was involved again as he set up Emi Buendia at the edge of the bix.
The little Argentine swept in a curling shot which beat Danny Ward, only to crash off the underside of the crossbar.
However, like all good strikers, Ollie Watkins was following up.
He gambled while Timothy Castagne ambled and it was the Villa man who cashed in to net the loose ball with the outside of his right boot.
Leicester looked rattled and Wout Faes overhit a through ball to Iheanacho by a good 20 yards.
But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Foxes as Aston Villa imploded at the goal-kick which followed to equalise within two minutes of going behind.
Emi Martinez took an unnecessary risk by rolling the ball into Bouboucar Kamara at the edge of his own box and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall spotted an opportunity and was on him in a flash.
He knocked the ball to Kelechi Iheanacho who fed James Maddison and the midfielder kept his cool under pressure from the sliding Ezri Konsa to tuck the ball into the net.
Talk about a self-inflicted wound.
Stung, Villa hit back and Lucas Digne flashed in a cross which Watkins just failed to get on the end of, before Ward pushed away a curling shot from Bailey at full stretch.
Leicester were hanging on and a typically brilliant Douglas Luiz corner picked out Bailey at the near post but the Jamaican’s flashing header bounced off the bar with Ward beaten.
But Villa regained their lead just beyond the half hour.
Buendia played in Digne whose low delivery found Watkins in the box and when the striker shot Leicester’s new £15million centre half Harry Souttar stuck out his right leg to deflect the ball into his own net.
The Aussie World Cup star looked utterly crestfallen as his debut turned sour.
But incredibly he was smiling by half-time as Leicester struck twice before the break to turn this game on it’s head.
Iheanacho started the comeback with his second important goal in a week.
Mings failed to clear the danger following a free kick and his weak clearance was picked up by Victor Kristiansen who fed Barnes.
His cross was inch perfect for Iheanacho to give Mings the slip and head home at the back stick.
Worse was to follow in first half stoppage time for Villa as the Foxes hit the front.
Kamara lost possession again in midfield and Iheanacho slid through to Tete who raced through to clip the ball beyond Martinez to score on his debut.
Emery sent on Alex Moreno and Philippe Coutinho for Digne and Ramsey at the break but it was Leicester who almost scored when Iheanacho ran on to a Tielemans ball, only to shoot into the side netting.
It was frantic stuff with chances at both ends.
Bailey had a shot cleared off the line by Faes, then Coutinho thought he had equalised, only to have his joy cut short when he was flagged offside.
But it was Leicester who had the final word when Moreno miscued Barnes’ through ball and Leicester sub Dennis Praet cashed in to round Martinez and slide the ball into the empty net.