Villa Fight Back to Claim Impressive Away Victory
Aston Villa continued their remarkable Premier League form with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday. The win marks Villa's sixth triumph in their last seven league matches, cementing their position among the division's in-form teams.
The visitors found themselves trailing at halftime after Lukas Nmecha put Leeds ahead, but second-half heroics from Morgan Rogers turned the game completely around. The forward scored both of Villa's goals to secure three valuable points in what manager Unai Emery described as a "proper Sunday" performance.
Rogers Shines with Match-Winning Display
After a difficult start to the season that saw him receive criticism from some sections of Villa supporters, Morgan Rogers delivered a performance that demonstrated his growing importance to the team. The forward equalised just after halftime when he turned in Donyell Malen's low cross at the near post.
Rogers then completed the turnaround with a moment of pure quality, firing home a stunning free-kick that left the Leeds goalkeeper with no chance. What happened next spoke volumes about the player's character and team-first mentality.
Rather than celebrating solely with the travelling Villa supporters, Rogers immediately sought out set-piece coach Austin MacPhee to acknowledge his contribution. "The set-piece coach is banging on at me to keep trying in training," Rogers revealed to the BBC after the match. "That one was for him. He does his homework on all free-kicks."
Villa director Damian Vidagany captured the mood around the club with his post-match social media message: "Cold, rain, kicks, tough guys in front, a comeback and 3 points. Our squad played like a good football team, fought like men and got the reward."
Emery's Tactical Changes Prove Decisive
The first half at Elland Road proved challenging for Villa, with the team struggling to match Leeds' intensity on a pitch that was cutting up badly. The introduction of Donyell Malen at halftime provided the spark Villa desperately needed, with his pace and directness immediately causing problems for the Leeds defence.
Manager Unai Emery praised his team's resilience after the match, particularly highlighting Rogers' development. "He was playing fantastic," Emery stated. "Today scoring his goal was brilliant. I try to get of him his qualities and make him feel comfortable in our structures."
The Spanish tactician also received validation for his decision to persist with Rogers during his earlier difficult spell. Rather than dropping the player when he faced criticism, Emery maintained faith in his abilities - a decision that is now paying significant dividends.
Midfielders Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans exemplified Villa's second-half improvement, winning 19 duels between them as the visitors matched Leeds physically after the break. Substitute Ross Barkley also made another positive impact, winning the free-kick that led to Rogers' winner, just days after scoring against Bournemouth.
Watkins' Goal Drought Remains Concern
While Villa celebrated another important victory, concerns continue to grow around striker Ollie Watkins' ongoing goal drought. The England international has now scored just once in 17 appearances this season and only four times in his last 31 matches for the club across all competitions.
Watkins came close to breaking his duck in the first half against Leeds, narrowly failing to curl an effort inside the far post. Despite his lack of goals, the forward remained lively throughout and consistently found dangerous positions in the penalty area.
Villa have managed to maintain their impressive form despite Watkins' struggles, but with crucial Europa League and Premier League fixtures approaching, the team will need their main striker to rediscover his scoring touch if they are to maintain their challenge for top-four qualification and European success.
The victory moves Villa into a strong position ahead of two winnable home fixtures this week. BSC Young Boys visit Villa Park in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by the West Midlands derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
