Aston Villa came from behind to beat Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road to lift themselves into the Premier League’s top four.
Morgan Rogers continues to typify Villa’s impressive resurgence after a winless start to the campaign, taking until matchweek five to even score a goal, and netted twice in a second-half turnaround in Yorkshire.
Leeds were good value for their lead after Lukas Nmecha benefitted from a hashed clearance from Ezri Konsa in the eighth minute, and showed plenty of intent to inflict further damage via Brenden Aaronson, who flashed an effort wide before drawing a decent save from Emiliano Martinez.
Morgan Rogers celebrates his equaliser early into the second half
Villa were comfortably second best. But Unai Emery, a notoriously shrewd operator, was not about to pass up the chance to move within a point of Manchester City in third, making half-time adjustments that altered the course of the game in his favour.
Three minutes after the restart substitute Donyell Malen had helped Rogers land the equaliser and the latter arrowed a stunning free-kick – won by Ross Barkley off the bench – beyond Lucas Perri to seal three precious points.
A fifth defeat in six will only increase the pressure on under-fire Leeds boss Daniel Farke as they drop into the relegation zone, while Villa continue to make inroads at the opposite end after a sixth win in seven.
Rogers double completes comeback
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Morgan Rogers squeezes home the leveller for Aston Villa at Leeds.
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Morgan Rogers puts Aston Villa in front with a deft free-kick from the edge of the box.
