Anwar El Ghazi’s seventh goal of the season ensured Aston Villa got back to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road.
The wide man slotted home the only goal of the game in the fifth minute to secure the spoils and an impressive seventh away win of the campaign.
Resolute Villa stood firm to seal their 13th Premier League clean sheet of 2020/21 and wrap up their first triumph at Elland Road since 2000, when watching England boss Gareth Southgate was on target.
Victory moves Dean Smith’s Villans on to 39 points from 24 matches, with a trip to Sheffield United up next on Wednesday night.
Smith made two changes to Villa’s XI as midfielders Jacob Ramsey and Marvelous Nakamba were handed starting berths for the encounter in West Yorkshire.
The hosts went close in the opening seconds, Raphinha almost connecting with Patrick Bamford’s effort at the far post, before Villa saw penalty appeals waved away for handball against Luke Ayling.
And it was the visitors who struck the game's crucial blow during a breathless start. El Ghazi’s deep corner was recycled by Ramsey, he laid off to Ollie Watkins and his cross back into the penalty area found the Dutchman, who beat the offside trap, took a touch and coolly slotted home from six yards.
Emi Martinez denied Tyler Roberts in the 11th minute before the lively El Ghazi twice tested Illan Meslier from distance and sent another long-range strike narrowly off target in the opening quarter.
Leeds went on to dominate possession as the first half wore on, albeit without seriously testing Martinez, and, after Watkins’ surging run brought a routine save from Meslier, it was Villa who held a narrow advantage at the break.
That pattern continued in the second period as Villa’s defence stood strong and thwarted the home side from creating a clear-cut opening.
The visitors continued to provide an attacking threat of their own, El Ghazi firing over the crossbar in the 68th minute.
Smith turned to Morgan Sanson and Trezeguet off the bench as the encounter entered the closing stages, with Raphinha heading wide at the back post in the 89 minute as Villa sealed only a third win in their last 18 away league meetings against the Whites.
Villa: Martinez, Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett, J Ramsey (Sanson 79), Nakamba, McGinn, Traore, Watkins, El Ghazi (Trezeguet 88).
Subs: Heaton, Taylor, Kesler, Engels, Luiz, Barkley, Davis.
