In an encounter of the upmost entertainment at Villa Park, the points were shared in a 3-3 draw between Aston Villa and Leeds United. It will frustrate given the fact that Aston Villa were 3-1 up and Leeds were at one stage in the first half, the dominant side.
After an energetic start from Villa, Daniel James finished, and Leeds went ahead. This was then followed by James hitting the crossbar and then the combined forces of Jacob Ramsey and Phillipe Coutinho meant that Villa went 3-1 ahead in a half that was unrelenting.
But, in the dying embers of it, Daniel James nodded home and Leeds halved the deficit. This ensured that Bielsa’s side had hope and meant that they could push for the equalizer.
The first half was not an advertisement or a guide on how to defend, Tyrone Mings struggled against the diminutive and tricky James and the livewire of Jack Harrison.
As the second half commenced, it looked as if it would fall short of the first half’s rock concert and resemble more of an acoustic piece but on 63 minutes, Diego Llorente finished the loose ball in Villa’s box and levelled the game, something which rewarded Leeds’s attacking endeavour and was a demonstration of their relentless style of play.
This sparked riotous scenes in the Leeds away end as multiple fans mobbed their players decked in a blue away kit and with the hope of winning the game.
As well as the proactivity of Llorente, this goal was noticeable for the poor defending by Villa.
Then, as the game reached its denouement, Ezri Konsa was sent off for two yellow cards and Leeds’s hope became both realistic and tangible, but the winner never came.
8 minutes were added on but the Villa defence held firm and a riotous, frenetic game ended in a draw that pleases Leeds given they were 3-1 down but will disappoint Villa.
Who needs to defend?