A well-struck late winner from Ross Barkley maintained Aston Villa’s impressive 100 per cent start to the Premier League season at Leicester City’s expense.
Two of the Premier League’s early frontrunners looked set to cancel each other out in a competitive encounter in which chances were at a premium, as debutant defender Wesley Fofana impressed for the hosts.
The visitors Head Coach Dean Smith opted to field the same starting that dismantled Liverpool 7-2 last time out.
Their attackers took the plaudits that day, but it was Villa’s defence that was examined often against a lively Leicester side who’d scored 12 times in their opening four league games.
Having weathered spells of pressure from the hosts, the visitors came within inches from opening the scoring when Trezeguet prodded Jack Grealish’s cut-back wide after 26 minutes.
Fresh from his first England start against Wales last week, Grealish was dictating his side’s attacking play from the left wing as Villa began to control the game as the half wore on.
A sumptuous back heel released Matt Targett, but the full-back’s cross failed to connect with a teammate as a low-key first half came to an end.
Timothy Castagne was at the heart of Leicester’s best work early on before Villa’s Matt Targett sent a free-kick wide before half-time.
Esri Konsa put a header narrowly wide for the Villans nine minutes after the break as the visitors’ threat increased.
Soon after substitute Bertrand Traore sent a header straight at Kasper Schmeichel, Villa burst forward again in stoppage time and Barkley was allowed to travel through the middle of the pitch before sending the ball flying low into the corner of the Leicester goal to win the game for Villa.
The win sends Villa second, on 12 points and one point behind leaders Everton, while Leicester are fourth on nine points.