Leeds United vs. Aston Villa quick recap: Monk’s men march on with a 2-0 win

Pre-match Thoughts: Garry Monk sends out another strong side that needs to get a result tonight. A night game at Elland Road against a team like Villa means that not only does the crowd hope that we can win, but the XI players on the pitch need to believe it as well. If we lose this game we could fall to 8th or 9th in the table. A win on the other hand, would put us in 4th place. I hope Kemar Roofe finally gets his goal.

• The first ten minutes of the game were even, with no real attacks coming from either side, the start to what could be a fast-paced and chippy game.
• Fourteen minutes in and Mile Jedinak gets booked by the referee for fouling Hadi Sacko. The Whites get a free-kick but in the end it comes to nothing as Villa get a free-kick just one minute later.
• In the twenty-ninth minute, Hadi Sacko wins Leeds another free kick deep into the Villa area; Charlie Taylor gives a good delivery into the box and wins Leeds their first corner of the night.
• The corner is Leeds’ best chance so far as the ball from Taylor is swung in and headed over by Pontus Jansson. The following minute, Aston Villa win themselves a corner but it is cleared for a throw-in.
• Almost a goal for Leeds! A corner comes out to Doukara in the thirty-ninth minute who crosses the ball back into the box, where Kyle Bartley meets the cross with his head and the ball goes just wide of Gollini’s goal! So close.
• Kalvin Phillips picks up a soft yellow card for fouling Rudy Gestede, and after two minutes of added time, the first half ends tied at 0-0 with neither team finding the back of the net.

Halftime Thoughts: A chippy game here at Elland Road so far. There wasn’t much in it, but at times, both teams tried to take advantage of the counter-attack. Leeds have had the best chance so far with Kyle Bartley’s header. Still, Leeds have had 60% of the possession, but no shots on goal. I really hope this game does not end in a tie; with the amount of effort Leeds have put into this game so far, they deserve three points. Still not the best of displays from either side.

• The second half begins with a very ambitious attempt from Villa’s Kodjia and it goes well wide of Rob Green.
• Rob Green decides to play super hero in the fifty-third minute as Albert Adomah breaks through the Leeds defense only to be stopped by a great save from the veteran goalkeeper. Still 0-0.
• The following minute sees Rob Green in action again as Ashley Westwood fires on goal from the edge of the box and the former England no. 1 makes a good save and gives Villa the corner. The corner is cleared away and earns Leeds United a throw in.
• The sixty-first minute rolls in and Kemar Roofe is denied a penalty after appearing to have his foot stepped on in the box by Mile Jedinak. Referee Peter Bankes waves off any protests the players had about the incident and allows play to carry on.
• GOAL!!!!!!!! Doukara puts in a brilliant cross that is met by Kemar Roofe’s head and flies in the back of the net before Gollini could run out to punch the ball! It is Kemar’s first goal for Leeds and Elland Road erupts in pure delight for the summer signing. It’s 1-0 Leeds United after sixty-eight minutes!!
• 73’. A substitution for Leeds puts Stuart Dallas on the pitch and he takes the place of Doukara. A huge applause goes out to the man who provided Roofe with his first goal in the Whites uniform. Doukara put in a worthy effort tonight.
• Three minutes later, Swedish defender Pontus Jansson is shown a yellow card for simulation. After that card, Villa subs off Gestede and Adomah and puts on a more attacking lineup with Agbonlahor and Ayew coming on in their place.
• Ten minutes left in regulation now, as Elland Road gives Kemar Roofe a standing ovation when he is subbed off for Alex Mowatt, a like-minded attacking midfielder with gas in his tank. Roofe must be exhausted.
• We head into the 90th minute now and the fourth official signals that we will have another five minutes of additional time. Let’s hope Leeds can hang on and secure the three points!
• GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! We are in the 94th minute and Chris Wood seals the three points with a dagger! Hadi Sacko sped past the Villa defence to find himself and Chris Wood on a 2-on-1 with Gollini. Sacko attempted a shot on goal and Gollini got a piece on it as it rolled towards the goal. Chris Wood slid and beat the oncoming defender to the ball and Wood scores his 13th goal of the season! GET IN!!!

Final Whistle Thoughts: A hard-fought and well organized game gives Leeds, the most deserving of the two teams, the three points. Kalvin Phillips was awarded MOTM and who could argue? The youngster has consistently gone blow for blow against the best in the league, proving time and time again why Garry Monk plays him.

Monk’s Men are on a roll! Currently, they sit 4th in the EFL Championship, and are only 2 points out third! Surely they are looking up at the top 2 with heavy ambitions while Aston Villa fall to 15th! Where are the doubters today? Thanks for following along, we’ll have more tomorrow here at Through It All Together. MOT