MX23RW : Friday, November 22 04:34:30| >> :120:24401:24401:
[monks data]
Aston Villa logo
Premier League | Gameweek 6
Oct 23, 2020 at 8pm UK
Villa Park
Leeds logo

Aston Villa
0 - 3
Leeds


Mings (53'), Grealish (69')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Bamford (55', 67', 74')
Struijk (10'), Klich (90+1')

Patrick Bamford hits hat-trick as Leeds end Aston Villa's winning start

Patrick Bamford hits hat-trick as Leeds end Aston Villa's winning start
© Reuters
Patrick Bamford is on six goals for the season after Leeds inflicted Villa's first Premier League loss.

Patrick Bamford's hat-trick saw him create a little piece of history for Leeds as Aston Villa were denied top spot in the Premier League.

Bamford's second-half treble saw the striker become only the second player to score in each of Leeds's opening three away games in a top-flight league season, after Gordon Hodgson in 1937-38.

It took the 27-year-old to six Premier League goals for the season as Marcelo Bielsa's team continued their impressive return to the top division.

Bamford has already scored six Premier League goals following Leeds' promotion
Bamford has already scored six Premier League goals following Leeds' promotion (Laurence Griffiths/PA)

Villa were chasing their own piece of club history, having never won their opening five league games of a season before. They still have not, and Friday night's defeat saw them miss the chance to top the Premier League table for the first time since October 2001.

Bamford had a good early chance for Leeds but his diving header from Ezgjan Alioski's deep cross from the left went narrowly wide.

A superb block by Ezri Konsa, throwing himself in front of Rodrigo's driven shot, saw Leeds go close again shortly afterwards. From the resulting corner, Alioski sent another effort straight at Emiliano Martinez.

At the other end, Ross Barkley stung the palms of Illan Meslier with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Leeds enjoyed the better of the opening 25 minutes but Villa rode their luck and then had the best chance of the game so far.

Ollie Watkins' low cross from the right side of the penalty area eluded Trezeguet in the centre and found Jack Grealish at the far post. The Villa captain got a good contact with his left foot as he turned the ball goalwards but Luke Ayling was on the goal-line to make the clearance.

It was not Jack Grealish's night
It was not Jack Grealish's night (Nick Potts/PA)

Leeds survived a penalty scare late in the first half when Grealish went down under a challenge from Helder Costa just inside the area. Referee Paul Tierney waved away the appeals and his decision was supported by a VAR check.

A swift break by Jack Harrison saw him put Bamford in on goal with a lovely throughball but Konsa and Tyrone Mings did just do enough to put the striker off and he scuffed his shot wide.

Grealish was involved again at the start of the second half, almost opening the scoring with a sensational solo run. The 25-year-old collected the ball deep inside his own half before embarking on a driving forward run, riding challenges from three Leeds players on his way to the penalty area.

He took his time to work his way over to the right-hand side but with defenders sliding in all around him, but when he finally got his shot away it was straight at Meslier.

From the resulting corner Meslier then produced an acrobatic save to tip Konsa's volley over the crossbar after he had beaten Ayling to the ball. It proved pivotal.

Despite Villa's start to the second half, it was Leeds who went ahead after 55 minutes. Alioski and Harrison spearheaded a counter-attack, with the latter picking out the run of Rodrigo into the area. His effort was initially palmed away by Martinez, but Bamford was lurking to slot home the loose ball at the far post.

Leeds were in the ascendancy since going in front and doubled their lead shortly afterwards. It was Bamford again, curling a shot into the top corner of the net from just outside the area with unerring accuracy.

Bamford completed his hat-trick after 74 minutes, showing good feet to work a yard of space inside the penalty area before curling the ball beyond Martinez.

Leeds were creating chances at an alarming rate and Bamford had an opportunity for a fourth but looped his header into the goalkeeper's arms, before Pablo Hernandez wildly blazed a shot over the crossbar when he had time and space to do much better.

Watkins had a sight of goal in stoppage time for a consolation goal for Villa but he dragged his effort wide.

ID:419554: cacheID:419554:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9876:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith pictured on September 24, 2020
Read Next:
Dean Smith: 'I have the utmost respect for Marcelo Bielsa'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Steelers
@
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!