Leeds and Aston Villa shared the spoils in a scrappy game at Elland Road.
The game was littered with fouls, cards and little in way of clear-cut chances. With referee Stuart Atwell enjoying the sound of his whistle more than my Mrs enjoys the sound of her own voice, the game wasn’t allowed to flow in what promised to be a feisty affair but did little in the way of actually getting going. At the final whistle, Leeds will be more pleased with the point after they were dominated in the second half, mainly because of the dismissal of Luis Sinisterra for a silly pair of yellow cards. The first from a cynical trip and the second for not retreating enough from a Villa free-kick.
Aston Villa set themselves up to frustrate the hosts, taking a minute for each goal kick, free kick and well, erm…any kick. Long-balls over the top for the advancing Watkins and Bailey was their real and only game plan, and for the most part, it worked. They were clearly hoping for set pieces and the chance to send Mings and Konsa up front to nick something. Crosses into the box confused the Leeds box with Illan Meslier waving goodbye to most of Villas efforts. His defence held firm though, and cleared any dangers. At the other end, Rodrigo went close after a whipped cross just evaded his lunge.
A poor header from Liam Cooper allowed Watkins time to shoot but his effort was saved by Meslier with Coutinho slipping on the rebound. Coutinho had another effort just minutes later but his low drive was straight at the keeper. Rodrigo was then allowed the time and space to line up a shot that flashed past the post with Martinez beaten. Meslier soon after was called into action, twice denying efforts from Watkins and Ramsey as the half came to an end, 0-0.
In the second half, The Whites were up against it with the red card coming in the first five minutes, and Villa started to show much more with a host of long-range chances as well as dangerous balls into the box. Coutinho comes the closest on 50 minutes when his acrobatic effort hits the inside of the post with Meslier well beaten, with Watkins getting his feet all wrong and comically putting the rebound wide.
Both sides make changes to try and impact the game and it now felt like Leeds are starting to drop deep and hold out for a point. Villa go close again as Meslier once again makes a mess of a corner but the fall hits Konsa, without him knowing much about it and the ball goes out for a goal-kick. Bamford, coming on as a substitute with 15 minutes to go has Leeds’s first, and best chance. He picked the ball up and drove at the Villa defence, after being forced slightly wide and with no help, he smashed a shot at the keeper, with Aaronson following it up but he was just beaten to it by the outstretched leg of the defender. Slight appeals for a penalty but it was a good challenge, and VAR thought so too. Moments later and Bamford is involved again. He finds space and plays a cut back to Klich but his side foot effort is blocked from six yards.
Villa went close again in the dying seconds as Buendia curled a fantastic effort from 20 yards, but it sails inches wide of Meslier’s upright. The game winds down and the ref blows, for the millionth time this afternoon. Thankfully, his last action of the game, and it ends, 0-0.
What did you think of the performance today? Let us know in the comments.