Match Recap: Aston Villa 0-3 Leeds United

Leeds United walked onto the pitch at Villa Park to face the only professional team in the country to have a perfect record this season. The Whites walked off the pitch 3-0 winners and Patrick Bamford went down the tunnel with the match ball following a wonderful hattrick to win the game.

The Whites started well as Bamford had the first chance of the game fall to him on four minutes. Harrison did well to find Alioski on the overlap on the left side, the Macedonian sent a swinging ball into the box for Bamford whose diving header from distance flashing just wide.

Villa looked dangerous but Leeds were looking the most dangerous side, with Harrison and Alioski combining again before the latter cut the ball back to Rodrigo whose shot by the near post was well blocked by Ngoy.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

Rodrigo popped up just moments later as Costa cut the ball in front of Rodrigo from the right side, with the Spaniard unable to connect to the ball as a good chance went begging.

Villa were feeding from some of Leeds’ scraps as some of the ball-playing out from the back was really slack in the first-half. Robin Koch bailed out a poor crossfield ball from Stuart Dallas which had reached the path of Trezeguet, before Barkley robbed Koch and shot from the edge of the box straight at Meslier.

Following some shaky moments from Struijk who picked up a yellow card and looked like he might not be able to handle the likes of Ross Barkley in the middle. Jamie Shackleton replaced him and Mateusz Klich dropped into the holding midfield role.

Villa came closest in the 27th minute where Villa latched onto another slack pass, with Grealish breaking through on the left channel. His strike across goal beat the keeper but couldn’t beat Ayling on the line as he’d recovered from his poor ball originally.

Leeds kept pushing up to half-time, and they should’ve had the lead going into the break. Harrison but in a brilliant ball from the left with Bamford breaking away from Mings. His shot went close but fizzed just wide of the goal.

Photo by Nick Potts - Pool/Getty Images

Villa perhaps should’ve had the lead themselves early in the second half, with Grealish breaking on a great run from his own half. He drove across the box from left to right and decided to go alone despite having Ollie Watkins available at the back post, the shot was blocked and Leeds were let-off.

Meslier pulled-off a brilliant save just moments later as Konsa volleyed from the resulting corner as he tipped the high shot over the top.

Following these too scares Leeds managed to break through as they countered well as Rodrigo linked-up with Harrison well on the left. The return pass found Rodrigo in plenty of space on the inside-left. His shot across goal broke for Bamford at the back post who tucked the ball home to give Leeds the lead.

The goal changed the dynamic of the game as Leeds managed to tighten their grip on the game before getting the crucial second goal. Klich found Bamford through the middle who turned well a whipped one high off the underside of the bar to double the advantage.

Bamford picked-up his hattrick six minutes later as he receives the ball inside the penalty area with four Villa jerseys surrounding him. He twists and shifts a little before swinging his left foot around the ball, curling his strike into the top left corner as he wheeled away with the three points for The Whites.

Leeds kept pushing and working hard with some great performances all-round, particularly in the second half. You can check out our ratings from the game here.

We now look ahead to a home match against Leicester City in yet another tough and intriguing encounter.