Leicester City 0-1 Aston Villa

Ross Barkley’s injury time stunner saw Aston Villa snatch a victory against Leicester City at the King Power on Sunday night.

The midfielder surged towards the home side’s penalty box before sending a powerful drive into the bottom corner.

The goal was just reward for a strong performance from the visitors, who had dominated the second half.

Barkley’s strike ensured Villa maintained their 100% start to the Premier League season, winning their opening four league games for the first time since 1930/31.

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.

Villa began the second half on the front foot, and Konsa powered a header just wide as they looked to turn their pressure into goals.

Both ‘keepers had been relatively untested until the hour mark when Emiliano Martinez got down sharply to keep out Youri Tielemans’ drive.

A hat-trick hero in his last game, Ollie Watkins had to wait 68 minutes for a sight of goal on Sunday night. As Targett’s cross came his way, the striker was in prime position to convert but he completely missed the ball and it drifted to safety.

Bertrand Traore was introduced as Villa pushed for a winner, and the winger forced Kasper Schmeichel into a save before the late drama unfolded.

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.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Barkley, Trezeguet (Traore 80'), Watkins, Grealish (c).

Unused subs: Steer, Elmohamady, Nakamba, Hourihane, El Ghazi, Engels.