NORWICH, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - A superb individual effort by midfielder Jacob Ramsey and a late Ollie Watkins goal gave Aston Villa a 2-0 win at bottom team Norwich City on Tuesday (Dec 14), in the Premier League, as home manager Dean Smith suffered defeat against his former club. Smith took over at Norwich after parting company with Villa last month and the visitors, now managed by former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, missed several chances to win by a bigger margin. Norwich looked toothless and their goalkeeper Tim Krul tipped over a long-range effort from John McGinn before Ramsey beat him in the 34th minute with a goal of the highest quality. Ramsey took a Watkins pass into his stride on the halfway line and after pulling clear of several markers with a darting run, he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. Krul kept out a close-range Watkins header at the far post with a reflex save in the 55th minute but was powerless in the 87th, when the Villa striker was left with a simple tap-in after good work by substitute Carney Chukwuemeka. The result lifted Villa to ninth place in the standings on 22 points from 17 games while Norwich stayed rooted to the bottom on 10 points. More on this topic Related Story Football: Man City hammer Leeds 7-0 for seventh straight win
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Steven Gerrard's return to Anfield as Aston Villa manager ended in a 1-0 defeat by Liverpool with a 67th minute Mohamed Salah penalty keeping the Merseysiders a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City. There was little fanfare for Gerrard, the Liverpool-born former captain and Champions League winner, as he took his place in the technical area before the game and stuck with his approach of treating the game like any other. Even at the final whistle, when Liverpool fans finally broke into a chorus of his name, Gerrard, on the pitch shaking hands with players and officials, made no reciprocal gesture, saving his applause for Villa's visiting support. Asked about the reaction from the Liverpool fans to his return, Gerrard was ice cold. "For me the priority is the support from the Aston Villa fans," he said. It was a professional approach from Gerrard, one which showed respect for his new club and their supporters and he will have added to his growing reputation as a manager from the way he set his team up to frustrate Juergen Klopp's side. It was a conservative approach, with Ollie Watkins playing as a lone striker supported by veteran Ashley Young and a bank of three midfielders sat in front of the back four, but it succeeded in limiting Liverpool's space. Inevitably though, Liverpool dominated the first half with Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez doing well to keep out a back-post header from Andy Robertson and a close-range shot at the near post from Salah. After the break, Martinez produced a brilliant reflex stop to keep out a powerful header from Virgil van Dijk but Liverpool's pressure finally paid off when Salah went down in the box under challenge from Tyrone Mings. The Egyptian fired home an unstoppable spot-kick after protests from Villa. Gerrard felt that the decision was "soft" and was puzzled that referee Stuart Attwell did not go to the pitchside monitor to review the decision. The Villa manager threw on forward Danny Ings and the attack-minded Emiliano Buendia in a bid to find a late leveller and the way his side put pressure on the Liverpool defence in the latter stages left him wondering what might have been had he taken a more positive approach earlier. Villa claimed in vain for a late penalty when Ings went down as Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker challenged leaving Gerrard frustrated. "I thought Liverpool were better in terms of general play. Their style was better than ours, but we've done so well to contain them for large periods. Ultimately the game has been decided by a penalty. There were two penalty incidents in the game, Liverpool got theirs," he said. More on this topic Related Story Football: Premier League top three need penalties to scrape wins Related Story Football: Ronaldo penalty gives Man United 1-0 win at Norwich Klopp conceded his team had lost their way after taking the lead. "For 75 minutes we were outstanding. Clearly the better side and played in all the areas we needed to play. We created moments," said the German. "But we go 1-0 up and... Argh. Then the game opens up, let me say it like this... We lost the rhythm. That's a problem in football so you have to hold it from the beginning." Liverpool are on 37 points with leaders City, who beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 earlier on Saturday, on 38 points and third-placed Chelsea on 36 points. More on this topic Related Story Football: Arsenal cruise to 3-0 win over Southampton Related Story Football: Sterling penalty for 100th league goal gives leaders Man City win over 10-man Wolves
BIRMINGHAM (REUTERS) - Defender Ezri Konsa scored twice as Aston Villa came back from a goal down to beat Leicester City 2-1, rising above them to 10th spot in the Premier League table on goal difference on Sunday (Dec 5) after a pulsating encounter. Harvey Barnes squeezed the ball through Konsa's legs to open the scoring in the 14th minute, but Konsa got the last touch on Emiliano Buendia's goal-bound header to put his side level again three minutes later. Villa had a goal ruled out just before the break, but Konsa gave them the lead nine minutes into the second half as he headed home John McGinn's corner at the back post. Jamie Vardy came off the bench to give Leicester's attack a shot in the arm but it was the home side who had the better of the chances, and only the goalkeeping of Kasper Schmeichel kept them from adding to their total as they held on to win 2-1.
LONDON (REUTERS) - Aston Villa continued their resurgence under new manager Steven Gerrard when they claimed a second consecutive Premier League win by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday (Nov 27). Goals from Matt Targett and John McGinn moved Villa up to 11th spot, level with 10th-placed Palace who got a consolation through Marc Guehi in added time, on 16 points. The defeat was Patrick Vieira's first at home since being appointed Palace manager and their first since losing at Liverpool in September. Gerrard also became the first Villa boss in 23 years to win his first two Premier League games. "We can't get carried away, it has been a positive couple of weeks. The players have been fantastic in their application. We had to dig in at times today but we managed to get over the line which is nice," Gerrard told the BBC. Villa took advantage of Palace's vulnerability on set-pieces when Ashley Young's corner in the 15th minute was delivered deep into the box, where Targett controlled the ball and shot low through the crowd to score. Targett's opener was his first Premier League goal in over two years and only his third in the top flight. "The analysts and us spoke about set pieces in the build up to the game. We know they (Palace) are not great at defending them," Targett said. Gerrard praised his set-piece specialist for the opener. "His job is to identify weaknesses in the opposition side. The players deserve all the credit for going and implementing that goal," he said. Palace had more possession in the first half but were unable to conjure up shots on goal as their midfield struggled to create chances with Villa's Marvelous Nakamba and Jacob Ramsey keeping midfielder Conor Gallagher quiet. Villa looked like being reduced to 10 men when substitute Douglas Luiz was red-carded for a seemingly reckless challenge but the visitors got a reprieve when VAR intervened and the referee watched the replay, downgrading it to a yellow. More on this topic Related Story Football: 'I'm all in', new boss Gerrard promises Villa supporters Related Story Football: Villa opportunity was too big to turn down, says new boss Gerrard Palace did not have a shot on target until the 79th minute when Christian Benteke's acrobatic effort with his back to goal was saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Villa doubled their lead late in the game when a flowing move down the left found McGinn on the edge of the box and he curled his shot past the outstretched arms of Vicente Guaita. Palace finally scored in stoppage-time when Cheikhou Kouyate's cross to the near post found Guehi, who poked the ball past Martinez, but Villa held on for the three points.
LONDON (REUTERS) - West Ham United's Declan Rice scored a fine goal from distance as the rampant Londoners breezed past Aston Villa 4-1 in their Premier League clash at Villa Park on Sunday (Oct 31) to pile the pressure on home manager Dean Smith. The visitors hit the front in the seventh minute when full back Ben Johnson cut inside from the right and fired a brilliant left-footed shot into the far corner. Jarrod Bowen almost doubled the lead minutes later from a rapid counter-attack before Villa equalised in the 34th through Ollie Watkins, who finished with aplomb following a reverse pass from Matty Cash. West Ham, however, kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Rice restored their lead before halftime. The home side's hopes of a comeback suffered a blow when Ezri Konsa was sent off almost immediately after the restart for impeding Bowen who was clear on goal. Villa rallied valiantly and created a string of chances but were caught twice on the break, with Pablo Fornals and Bowen each finishing off slick counter-attacking moves and putting the game beyond Villa's reach. West Ham are fourth in the standings with 20 points - behind champions Manchester City on goal difference - after 10 games. Villa are 10 points adrift of the Hammers in 15th.
LONDON (AFP) - Thomas Partey scored his first goal for Arsenal as the Gunners beat Aston Villa 3-1 to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six matches on Friday (Oct 22). Partey’s first half header broke the Ghana midfielder’s goal drought in his 40th appearance in all competitions since his move from Atletico Madrid 12 months ago. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged Arsenal’s second goal when he converted the rebound after his penalty was saved. Emile Smith Rowe put the result beyond doubt early in the second half as Arsenal climbed to ninth place in the Premier League. After losing their first three league games, Arsenal have gradually recovered their equilibrium. Successive draws against Brighton and Crystal Palace had brought renewed pressure on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, but this was a tantalising glimpse of what they could be under the Spaniard. “I’m proud of the team. This is when we are good, when we play with real desire, real commitment and can have clear ideas of how to attack,” Arteta said. “We are closer together as a team. This is what you get from young players. They need the consistency. That comes with experience and maturity. “It has to happen now. They showed they can do it.” They won’t find many opponents as obliging as Villa, who still looked shell-shocked after conceding three goals in the final 10 minutes to lose 3-2 against Wolves last weekend. Jacob Ramsey’s late goal was no consolation for a Villa team on a run of three consecutive defeats. “First half we got dominated physically, but I’m confused about the penalty,” Villa boss Dean Smith said. “It is a lower contact tackle. Does he touch the ball first or his leg first? I thought they were the ones we were not going to VAR for.” Villa striker Ollie Watkins was fortunate to stay on the pitch after kicking out at Gabriel in the first minute. That was the only show of defiance from Villa as they were blown away by Arsenal’s sustained assault. Aubameyang’s audacious overhead kick ran across goal to Bukayo Saka and the winger fired over from a tight angle. Relentless pressure Partey stabbed against the crossbar after Villa failed to clear Saka’s free-kick. Arsenal’s relentless pressure finally paid dividends in the 23rd minute. Partey rose above the flat-footed John McGinn to meet Smith Rowe’s corner with a flicked header that just evaded Emiliano Martinez’s despairing dive. Arsenal were rampant and increased their lead on the stroke of half-time. Matt Targett’s challenge on Alexandre Lacazette was initially ignored by referee Craig Pawson, but after being urged to consult the pitchside monitor, he changed his decision and awarded a penalty. Smith was incensed, although replays showed Targett caught Lacazette just before touching the ball. Aubameyang’s spot-kick was saved by former Arsenal keeper Martinez, but the Gabon forward was first to the rebound and slotted in his seventh goal this season. Villa considered a move for Arsenal’s Smith Rowe when they chased a replacement for Jack Grealish in the close-season. They were unable to land the young midfielder and he showed what they missed out on with the latest in a growing list of influential displays. Sprinting onto Aubameyang’s long pass, Smith Rowe drilled a fierce strike that deflected off Tyrone Mings and then the post on its past Martinez in the 56th minute. Ramsey curled home from the edge of the area with eight minutes left, but the quality of the finish was at odds with the rest of Villa’s lacklustre display.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Aston Villa ended Everton's unbeaten start to the Premier League season with three unanswered goals in nine second-half minutes at Villa Park on Saturday (Sept 18). The game had been drifting towards a goalless draw until the 66th minute, when Matty Cash fired Villa ahead with his first goal for the club, before an own goal by Lucas Digne made it 2-0. As Everton buckled, Leon Bailey made it 3-0 with a powerful drive after coming on as a substitute, although his cameo performance was curtailed by a thigh injury soon after. The closest an injury-hit Everton came to scoring was moments before Cash's opener when in-form Demarai Gray curled a shot just wide, although they managed only one shot on target. Everton have 10 points from five games in fifth spot, with Villa moving up into the top half of the table with seven points from their opening five games. The visitors were without injured strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison and were also missing keeper Jordan Pickford and right back Seamus Coleman. Rafa Benitez's side were content to sit deep and play on the break, and they had been enjoying a degree of control until they were blown away by a stunning Villa burst. Cash, who had never scored for the Midlands club before, was played in down the right before cutting in on his left foot and sending a rising drive past Asmir Begovic. Everton were rattled and fell further behind when Bailey's inswinging corner glanced off Digne and into the net. Bailey, whose pace was electrifying, then latched on to a bouncing ball down the left and lashed a ferocious shot into the back of the net with Begovic beaten for pace. "I thought we were the better team in the first half but didn't create as many clear-cut chances as we'd like. I felt five minutes before our goal, they were on top," Villa manager Dean Smith said. He reserved special praise for Bailey. "Leon put the corner in for the goal and scored the third. The first goal was great build-up and Matt (Cash) has put it in the top bin," Smith said. "I thought Leon would lift us a bit. He's really special. He's a really good player. That's why we got him here."
LONDON (REUTERS) - Tottenham Hotspur's European hopes were dealt a huge blow as their final Premier League home game of the season ended in a dispiriting 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Wednesday (May 19). Striker Harry Kane's uncertain future at the club has left Tottenham fans wearing a frown in the past week but the 10,000 fans back inside Tottenham's stadium were buoyed when Steven Bergwijn gave them an eighth-minute lead with a powerful finish. Just like Tottenham's season, however, optimism quickly faded after Sergio Reguilon's horrible sliced own goal after 20 minutes gifted Villa an equaliser out of the blue. Another Reguilon mistake allowed Ollie Watkins to fire Villa ahead and Tottenham's confidence drained away with the visitors squandering opportunities to increase their lead. After months without being allowed into the stadium, Tottenham fans chanted against club chairman Daniel Levy and booed their team off at halftime. Kane, in what could be his final home game for the club, was a subdued figure although he did force Emiliano Martinez into a second-half save while Gareth Bale came off the bench to try to liven up Tottenham's attack. Villa were worthy winners, though, and wasted several good chances while substitute Carney Chukwuemeka hit the base of the post in stoppage time. Tottenham, who face a tough final game away at Leicester City on Sunday, are on 59 points in sixth place, the same as West Ham United who will move above them later on Wednesday if they avoid defeat at West Bromwich Albion. More on this topic Related Story Football: Harry Kane wants to leave Spurs, say reports Related Story Football: Spurs' top-four Premier League bid hit by loss at Leeds
BIRMINGHAM (REUTERS) - Everton's faint hopes of a top-four Premier League finish were all but extinguished following a goalless draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Thursday (May 13). Villa defender Tyrone Mings headed the home side's best chance wide from Douglas Luiz's cross, when he should have at least tested Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. After an uninspiring first half, Carlo Ancelotti's Everton improved after the break with Ben Godfrey drawing a save from Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez. But Everton failed to create any clear chances late in the game and the result left the Merseyside club eighth in the table, eight points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - A superb late goal from Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi condemned Everton to a 2-1 defeat in an action-packed clash and hit their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League on Saturday (May 1). The result left the Merseyside club, who have won only one of their last 10 league matches at home, eighth on 52 points while Villa moved two places up to ninth on 48 points. Everton trail fourth-placed Chelsea by nine points with five games left to play. Villa missed plenty of chances in an action-packed first half after Ollie Watkins fired them ahead in the 13th minute but grabbed the winner out of the blue when El Ghazi unleashed an 80th-minute thunderbolt into the top corner. Their manager Dean Smith was pleased with the outcome and acknowledged Villa still had plenty to play for as they rekindled hopes of securing a place in Europe. “It’s easy for people to say we haven’t got anything to play for but we want to finish as high as we can,” Smith told the BBC. “We want to regain that momentum and consistency we had earlier in the season. “It was a really good game of football and both teams tried to win. I think we deserved it on the balance of chances. Jordan Pickford was in really good form and denied Ollie Watkins time and time again.” Having spurned an early chance, Watkins gave Villa the lead as he robbed Mason Holgate of the ball and steered a low shot past Everton goalkeeper Pickford but sloppy defending cost the visitors shortly afterwards. Dominic Calvert-Lewin levelled in the 19th minute when he nodded in a Lucas Digne corner at the far post and then missed a gilt-edged chance as Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez kept out the striker’s close-range header. Villa dominated the final 20 minutes of an absorbing first half as they missed one chance after another, with El Ghazi and Ross Barkley hitting the woodwork while Pickford denied Bertrand Traore twice in quick succession. The pace fizzed out in the closing stages and just as the game seemed to be heading for a draw, El Ghazi picked his spot on the edge of the area and gave Pickford no chance with a delightful shot. Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was frustrated after his side’s poor home league form continued. “It is difficult to say why (Everton struggle at home),” said the Italian. “It is the same team who beat Arsenal seven days ago. We of course could do better at home for sure. It is unbelievable, the run we had away and the run we had at home. “We made a lot of mistakes at the beginning – no balance, no concentration. It was not a good evening.”
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Romain Saiss provided a contender for miss of the season during a 0-0 Midlands derby stalemate away to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday (March 6). The Moroccan somehow scooped the ball over the crossbar from almost on the goalline as Wolves enjoyed much the better of the second half after Villa were on top in the opening period. Villa, needing a win to rekindle their top-four hopes after losing to bottom club Sheffield United in midweek, twice hit the woodwork in a largely forgettable first half. The draw left Villa in ninth place on 40 points from 26 games with Wolves in 12th spot on 35 points. Although both sides were guilty of missing golden chances, it was a tepid derby and point each was about fair. Villa were again without chief creator Jack Grealish but were the more dangerous side early on. Watkins was desperately unlucky to see his piledriver crash back off the crossbar in the fourth minute and Ezri Konsa also beat visiting keeper Rui Patricio but not the woodwork. "I couldn't do much more about the shot that hit the bar. I hit that sweet and started to celebrate," Watkins said. Wolves were far livelier after the break with Pedro Neto outpacing Matt Targett before offloading a shot that Emiliano Martinez turned behind. Then came Saiss' miss. When a cross came over Wolves defender Conor Coady should really have scored but his header hit the post and rebounded across the area where Saiss sent the ball almost vertically up and over the bar. Coady had another great chance when the ball came to him in a crowded penalty area but from point-blank range his shot was saved by Martinez. "We were more like ourselves in the second half and a bit more on the front foot so disappointed," Coady said. "I didn't see Romain Saiss, I just saw it go over the bar, I just thought try and keep it down but I should score. Massively disappointed." Watkins almost won it for Villa at the death before Konsa lashed wildly at the rebound to sum up a disjointed game. "I keep saying there is a lot of inconsistency around the Premier League at the moment with the exception of Manchester City," Villa manager Dean Smith said. "There is tiredness and fatigue."
LONDON (AFP) - Leicester had captain Kasper Schmeichel to thank just for a point in a 1-1 draw at Burnley on Wednesday (March 3) as the Foxes' bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League stumbled again at Turf Moor. Aston Villa also missed the chance to move to within two points of the top four as they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, who held on for the final half an hour with 10 men. Leicester's challenge for a return to the Champions League next season has been badly hit by a series of injuries to key players and the presence of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Jonny Evans and James Justin was badly missed. A point edges Brendan Rodgers's men level on points with second-placed Manchester United, who face Crystal Palace later on Wednesday. But Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton all have the chance to close in on Leicester - who have not won in their last three games - when they are in action on Thursday. A newly configured defence and midfield for the visitors showed as Hamza Choudhury's slack pass to Wilfred Ndidi allowed Matej Vydra to smash home his first league goal in nearly 12 months after just four minutes. Choudhury missed a great chance to quickly make amends as his looping effort was tipped over by Nick Pope. However, Kelechi Iheanacho's splendid finish drew Leicester level on 34 minutes as the Nigerian volleyed home from Ndidi's floated ball over the top. Schmeichel then produced two stunning saves to prevent Chris Wood restoring Burnley's lead early in the second half. The Dane leapt to his left to parry the New Zealander's powerful header before getting down low to his right to turn another deflected Wood shot wide. Ashley Westwood then rattled the post for Burnley, but Leicester finished the stronger and could have snatched a victory that would have taken up to second in the table. Marc Albrighton stung the palms of Pope before Youri Tielemans's shot came back off the post. A point takes Burnley six points clear of the bottom three in 15th. Sheffield United secured just their fourth win of the season as David McGoldrick scored the only goal against a Villa side desperately missing the inspiration of injured captain Jack Grealish. McGoldrick swept home George Baldock's cross off the underside of the bar. Bertrand Traore fired wide from the edge of the area and Ollie Watkins hit the post for Villa before Phil Jagielka was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity when he chopped down Anwar El Ghazi. Despite dominating possession, Villa failed to make the man advantage count to remain down in ninth. Blades boss Chris Wilder has already conceded his side are headed back to the Championship, but they close the gap to survival to 12 points.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins scored his first Premier League goal in 10 games and midfielder Bertrand Traore added another to give them a 2-0 home win over struggling Newcastle United on Saturday (Jan 23). It was no more than Villa deserved as they missed several chances to win by a bigger margin while the visitors lacked any edge with their midfield stifled out and unable to feed strikers Andy Carroll and Callum Wilson. The result lifted Villa two places up to eighth on 29 points from 17 games while Newcastle dropped one place to 16th on 19 points from 19 games after a fourth successive defeat since the turn of the year. It also stretched Newcastle’s winless run to 10 games in all competitions and piled more pressure on manager Steve Bruce, whose side were on the back foot throughout. Watkins was delighted and conceded his barren run had dented his confidence. “I feel like it has been a long time coming, I have been getting into the right areas and it has been frustrating,” he told Sky Sports. “As a striker you always want to score goals, I have been unlucky and thankfully it went in today. I kept my eye on the ball and the next thing I knew it was in the back of the net. “The goals will always come if I keep going in the box, it came off a defender’s shin tonight and fell for me.” Villa pressed from the start and Watkins fired them into a 13th-minute lead as he beat visiting goalkeeper Karl Darlow to the ball and headed it in after Fabian Schaer failed to clear a low Matt Targett cross from the left. Watkins had another effort correctly ruled out for marginal offside before Traore made it 2-0 in the 42nd, beating Darlow with a fine first-time shot off the underside of the bar thanks to a superb assist by Jack Grealish. Villa kept up the pressure after the break as Darlow denied Watkins in the 48th minute and substitute Trezeguet in stoppage time, while Ross Barkley came close with an audacious back-heel and Grealish fired wide of the far post.
LONDON (REUTERS) - West Ham United climbed to fifth in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Monday (Nov 30) as for the second successive home game they benefited from a missed penalty. Goals by Angelo Ogbonna and Jarrod Bowen at the start of each half earned West Ham the points, although Villa will rue an Ollie Watkins penalty that rattled the crossbar. Watkins then thought he had made amends in stoppage time but he had a goal ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. Jack Grealish had levelled with a deflected effort in the 25th minute but it was a frustrating night for Villa who could have gone fourth with a win. West Ham's third successive victory leaves them on 17 points from 10 games, four points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur. Villa have slipped to 10th with 15 points, having played a game less. Three weeks ago West Ham beat Fulham 1-0 at the London Stadium after a comical last-gasp penalty miss by Ademola Lookman and they got lucky again as they bagged the points, despite being second-best for much of the game.
LONDON (REUTERS) - Aston Villa returned to winning ways in stunning fashion as Ollie Watkins scored twice in a 3-0 away thumping of an abject Arsenal in drizzly north London on Sunday (Nov 8). The visitors had already seen a John McGinn goal ruled out for a harsh offside decision when Bukayo Saka, under pressure from Trezeguet, put into his own goal after 25 minutes. Villa went up a gear in the second half with Jack Grealish pulling the strings in midfield and it was no surprise when Watkins headed home in the 72nd minute. Watkins struck again three minutes later after a rapid counter-attack to seal the points. Two consecutive defeats had halted Villa's early-season charge but they moved back up to sixth with 15 points from seven games. Inconsistent Arsenal are down in 11th with 12 points after four wins and four defeats so far. More on this topic Related Story Football: Revitalised Ross Barkley a reason Aston Villa are flying Related Story Football: Aston Villa land Arsenal's FA Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for £20 million
LEICESTER (REUTERS) - A superb stoppage-time goal from Ross Barkley gave Aston Villa a 1-0 victory at Leicester City in a scrappy contest on Sunday (Oct 18) that stretched the visitors' perfect Premier League start to four wins. The result left Villa second on 12 points with a game in hand over leaders Everton who have 13. Third-placed Liverpool have 10 from five and Leicester in fourth are on nine after suffering their second successive home defeat. Barkley, who is on loan at Villa from Chelsea, snatched the winner out of the blue at the King Power stadium with a stinging low shot from 25 metres which left Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel clutching thin air, as the ball bounced in front of him. The England midfielder, who also scored on his Villa debut in a 7-2 home drubbing of Liverpool in the previous round of matches, was delighted as they started the season with four wins for the first time since 1930. "An important win today as they were on top and we started slow but we improved and in the end deserved it," he told Sky Sports. "I was 50/50 in the week and (our physio) did a really good job getting me right. He said I would end up scoring the goal and I did so I dedicated the goal to him. "The manager has given me the platform to play and I am excited and looking forward to every game." A drab first half produced one chance at each end, with Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez denying Leicester right back Timothy Castagne before Egyptian forward Trezeguet fired wide after a flowing move by the visitors. Villa, who were on the back foot in the opening half, came forward with more purpose after the beak and went close in the 51st minute when central defender Ezri Konsa headed inches wide. When the match appeared to be heading for a goalless stalemate, Barkley stepped up to make sure Villa stayed the only Premier League team with a perfect record this season after they narrowly avoided relegation last term. More on this topic Related Story Football: Aston Villa land Arsenal's FA Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for £20 million Related Story Football: 'We lost the plot', says shocked Jurgen Klopp as his Liverpool collapse to concede seven at Aston Villa Related Story Football: Aston Villa, Fulham knocked out of League Cup Villa manager Dean Smith heaped praise on Barkley. "We have seen Ross Barkley do that enough times for Everton and Chelsea so we are pleased he did it for us today," Smith told the BBC. "It was touch and go whether he started today. He had a knock to the knee but a great goal and a real battling performance by the whole team. "We are just looking at the next game. We will savour what we are doing at the moment and look forward to the Leeds game."