Leeds 0-1 Aston Villa – Clean sheet number 13! | OneFootball

Aston Villa picked up their thirteenth clean sheet of the season and their eight on the road following a 0-1 victory over Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side.

Dean Smith handed Jacob Ramsey and Marvelous Nakamba starts as they replaced Ross Barkley and Douglas Luiz on the bench. A lot was made of Smith’s stubbiness to change his starting eleven before the game on social media but credit where it’s due. The former Walsall and Brentford boss got his team selection and tactics spot on.

Villa quick out the blocks

It could have been so different for Villa had Raphina been able to make contact with Patrick Bamford’s mis-hit shot in the first minute.

Anwar El Ghazi whipped in a corner that went over everyone and fell to Ollie Watkins out wide. His shot come cross fell to the feet of El Ghazi, with an unnatural control of the ball before composing himself to slot the ball past Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

The winger very nearly doubled his tally just a few moments later but Meslier was equal to the effort from outside of the box.

Leeds had plenty of the ball and did their fair share of attacking without really threatening Emi Martinez. Tyler Roberts effort fell straight into the arms of the Villa keeper after Raphina’s effort fell nicely into his path.

Defensively solid

It was a much different Leeds side that we witnessed at Villa Park this season. Bielsa himself said they had played their best under his management that day. Their biggest threat was Raphina but Villa restricted the tricky winger.