Aston Villa 2-1 Leeds United

Leon Bailey and Emi Buendía were on target as Aston Villa recorded a 2-1 victory over Leeds United under the lights at Villa Park.

Bailey handed Villa a dream start as he registered his fourth Premier League goal of the season after just three minutes.

The hosts, who lost Lucas Digne and Ollie Watkins to injury in the first half, saw new signing Álex Moreno clear off the goal-line and captain Emi Martínez pull off a save of the season contender to preserve their advantage at the interval.

And it was Buendía who, after a VAR review for offside, secured a crucial second shortly after the hour mark, heading home a rebound after Illan Meslier had saved Bailey’s initial strike.

United substitute Patrick Bamford grabbed an 83^rd-minute consolation for the visitors to set up a nervous finale, but it was Villa who triumphed from a breathless encounter.

Victory extends Villa’s unbeaten run to three league matches as head coach Unai Emery made it 13 points from 18 since taking charge.

Fit-again midfielder Jacob Ramsey returned to Villa’s starting XI having been a second-half substitute in last Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Stevenage.

It was Emery’s sole change from the 1-1 draw against Wolves in Villa’s most recent league outing, with Moreno named among the substitutes.

And it took just three minutes for Villa Park to explode as Ashley Young found Boubacar Kamara on the counter-attack, he surged forward and duly fed Bailey, who cut inside and curled into the top corner.

Moreno was handed an earlier debut than he would have expected as a shoulder injury forced off Digne after just 10 minutes.

Douglas Luiz made a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Rodrigo before Jack Harrison scrambled an effort against a post midway through the first half.

Villa were forced into their second change just after the half-hour mark as Watkins was withdrawn due to injury, replaced by Danny Ings.

And the hosts were indebted to debutant Moreno shortly before the break as he tracked back to clear off the line after Rodrigo had burst clear and rounded Martínez.

The Argentina No.1 then produced an unbelievable save to block from Harrison at point-blank range before Young thwarted Wilfried Gnonto to preserve Villa’s lead at the break.

Moreno was denied by Meslier soon after the restart while Martínez made a smart stop to keep out Gnonto at the other end.

Luiz rifled just over the crossbar and, after the impressive Young made a super sliding challenge in the area, it was Villa who doubled their advantage in the 64^th minute.

Bailey’s strike was parried by Meslier and Buendía followed up to head the ball home, with the goal awarded after a VAR review.

Ings was denied by Meslier as Villa threatened a third, but it was Bamford who converted from close range with seven minutes remaining to ensure the final stages were a nervy affair.

But Villa held firm to extend their unbeaten run against Leeds to five matches.