Leicester’s late rally not enough as Durán’s header earns victory for Villa

“We’re on our way, to the Champions League, we’re on our way,” sang the Aston Villa supporters housed in a pocket of this blue bowl. There was a buoyant mood among the Villa contingent long before they recorded an eventful victory at Leicester courtesy of Amadou Onana, who profited from some invention at a first-half free-kick and a fine header by the substitute Jhon Durán in the second. Leicester were aggrieved with the officials after they were denied a penalty three minutes into second-half stoppage time. The dates of Villa’s European ties were formalised on the morning of this game, with a trip to Young Boys first up. For now, though, focus is on the Premier League.

The advent of the set-piece coach is not for everybody although for managers they have become a vogue, if not must-have, accessory. The straggly-haired Austin MacPhee, the Scotsman who joined Villa under Dean Smith three years ago, was on the receiving end of a hearty embrace from Unai Emery after Villa opened the scoring, MacPhee the architect of Onana’s close-range strike approaching the half hour. From a free-kick the former Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans cannoned a slick pass into the onrushing Jacob Ramsey, who piled into the 18-yard box and squared for Onana to slide in and apply a simple finish. Leicester, meanwhile, were angered at the referee, David Coote, for awarding a contentious free-kick in the first place, with Oliver Skipp booked for appearing to win the ball from behind Ollie Watkins.

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