Follow reaction as Aston Villa come back to beat Leeds in Premier League
Rogers scores twice - including superb free-kick - to inspire Villa win
Leeds stay 18th in table, while Villa up to fourth
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Image source, Getty ImagesWell done Morgan Rogers. This match belongs to you.
Make sure you check out Emma Smith's report from Elland Road as Aston Villa go into the top four and Leeds United drop into the bottom three.
After more live football? Of course you are! Follow Arsenal versus Tottenham in the Premier League right here.
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, speaking to BBC Match of the Day about his second-half free-kick: “I call it the Emi Buendia. He did it the in the last game before the break. It's something I've been practising, probably not as hard as him or as much as I should.
“Once he was off the pitch, I looked around and there was nobody else that really practised them, so I thought ‘why not?’ I know I’ve got them in the locker. It’s about consistency. From so close, it’s just about getting it up and down as quickly as possible.”
On celebrating with the set-piece coach: “He bangs on at me to do it more. Sometimes I don't do it as well as I should. That one was for him. He does his homework on all free-kicks, especially attacking free-kicks – how high we have to get it, how much it has to come down. He’s really good at stuff like that. That one was for him.”
On Villa's position: “The season kind of shapes in this big period. There’s no break, there are no gaps, it’s just relentless. The table kind of shapes how it will be until the rest of the season. We have to make sure we’re in and around the mix. It’s a good start.”
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “It’s a difficult place to come. They’re really strong at home. They played really well, with a high intensity. We had to dig in, we had to dig deep. Luckily, we managed to find two goals in the second half to win the game, which is the most important thing.”
“Of course we want to play better with pretty football, but you can’t always do that in the Premier League. Different teams pose different problems. We were really good with grit and dertermination, and we got the win.”
On Villa's second-half improvement: “We played a lot quicker with more intensity and tried to hurt them more. In the first half, we didn’t really cause that many problems, but in the second half we definitely did. We played a lot quicker and a lot more forward.
“That definitely helps, but normally it’s about our heart and our spirit to win. Competing in battles, competing in duels, keep running, keep working. It was a difficult win, they pushed us right to the limit.”
On his goals: “I'm really happy. There’s been a few goals I haven't quite got in other games so it was nice to get on the score sheet. But if I don't score, it's OK as long as we get the win.
“The manager’s always banging on at me to get into the box. That’s where the goals are scored. Sometimes I'm hesitant to go in. I went in and just kind of reacted to the ball. I’m lucky I could get a toe on it. I was really happy with that one.
“Straight out of half-time, we had the energy. The crowd was up, everything was going well. It was a good time to score.”
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to BBC Match of the Day: "Leeds United eh? First half we struggled, they deserved the first half. We weren't dominating and competing like we did in the second half. Leeds were playing fantastic. Second half we changed some things. They tired in the second half and we dominated the ball more. We scored quick and that helped us a lot.
"It was key to equalise the match and then it continued. We had chances to get the second goal and we did. Then they had some chances. We are happy because this match was a challenge. I am so, so happy for the players.
"We are trying to set as high a standard as possible. My players were fantastic.
"Every team in the Premier League has great players and coaches. We must be consistent. We must be strong. Tactically it is very important and individually we have to show our quality."
On Morgan Rogers: "He was playing fantastic. Today scoring his goal was brilliant. I try to get of him his qualities and make him feel comfortable in our structures. On the left, in the middle and as a striker. He is so, so competitive player. Always he accepts everything we are trying to do with him."
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to Sky Sports on Morgan Rogers: "He was performing fantastic, even when he wasn't scoring. It has always been his task to focus on the gameplan we have. Always he's playing well. Today it's better to be scoring goals but to me he's always the same. His season has been fantastic. He is getting progressively better like the team. And today, scoring goals, he was brilliant."
Don't know why I read Rafiq's message in Moss' voice from IT Crowd.
"The thing about Leeds is they always try and dribble it in."
Image source, Getty ImagesComment at the top of this page to share your thoughts
The problem with Leeds is they don't release the ball early. Also Tanaka and James should start the next game. Tanaka was good when he came on. Don't know why he was subsituted. I always thought we will survive with our home games but now I don't know.
Rafiq
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Leeds United
Leeds manager Daniel Farke to BBC Match of the Day: "Performance-wise we've turned back to what we want to be. We dominated many periods against a very good side. We should've taken some points from this game. We are not back to our best, we can still improve, but at the end we are just disappointed we did not get any points.
"To concede two goals is not good. As good as we are attacking down the left side at the moment we concede too many goals. We concede so quickly straight after the restart.
"Over the course of 38 games you have ups and downs. It happens sometimes at this level. Performance-wise I was happy. At the moment we are in a period where things are going against us.
"Of course the fans are unhappy and disappointed once we lose games. I don't want them to have a different reaction. I want them to feel like the world is falling apart when we lose a game, otherwise you can't be a Leeds United supporter.
"I'm just fully focused on the performance. If we perform like this today we'll win many more points."
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa defender Matty Cash, speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s always tough to come to Elland Road. They’re a good team [with a] good atmosphere. In the first half, we could have been a little bit better but showed great resilience.
“The boys that came on did really well – and a little dippy from [Morgan Rogers] at the end. I see it every time in training.
“You have to be resilient in places like this. In the second half we played really well. There were some great finishes. I'm really happy.”
On Villa’s excellent form: “We started poorly but we’ve found a bit of rhythm and stuck together as a group. We have a fantastic manager who leads us really well. His message today was to win the game and get into the top four. We’re delighted.”
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa goalscorer Morgan Rogers, speaking to Sky Sports: “We knew it wasn't the game for pretty football and nice passes. It was about how hard we wanted it and how much we were determined.
“They were at us in the first half. We brought that energy in the second half. We brought that resilience. We had to dig deep at the end.”
On his free-kick winner: “It wasn't bad. Emi [Buendia]'s been practising, I've tried to practise with him. I'm not as good as him. We've been practising that technique. I'm happy that went in. I'm happy it worked today.”
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was a great win at a difficult lace. We had to dig deep and work hard and show our determination,. We deserved the win in the end. When you look at everyone in the room we will work as hard as we can and leave everything out there. We may not be at it as normal but sometimes heart and determination gets you over the line.
On his goals: "The manager was banging on at me to get in the box and make runs into the box. There was a lot of pace on the ball so thankfully I was able to direct it. I am happy the free-kick went in. I tried to replicated Emi (Buendia) and thankfully it went in. I tried a bit in training and have been trying. The set-piece coach is banging on at me to keep trying in training.
On Villa's form: "A lot of people had opinions on how we started the season but we know how good we are. We are playing really well at the moment and full of confidence."
Comment at the top of this page to share your thoughts
Farke has to go, yet again he has shown why he does not have the acumen to manage at the highest level. The board needs to decisively act, not like they did for their other club Rangers! There is hope with this squad. Not with Daniel Farke.
Johnny
Comment at the top of this page to share your thoughts
Leeds not good enough. Championship team at best. Bottom 3 will be the same in May. Wolves probably won’t get another point and Burnley are just a yo-yo team. Leeds , Burnley and Wolves all down.
Johnny
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa are up to fourth in the Premier League table.
Leeds drop into the bottom three.
Image source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesComment at the top of this page to share your thoughts
I can't see Daniel Farke breaking his record of taking every team he ever got promoted straight back down again with this current Leeds squad. No one at back to defend and no one up front to score. Championship here we come.
A
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports
In the summer, there was talk about [Daniel Farke's] job on the back of a successful campaign in the Championship. This is the first time they've been in the bottom three this season, so they need to get better.
FT: Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Stephen Warnock
Former Aston Villa defender on BBC Radio 5 Live at Elland Road
Villa weren't great in the first half and Leeds should have put the game to bed. Villa stayed in it and had the ability to change it tactically and personnel and Daniel Farke will feel like that is a big opportunity missed.
Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Couple of boos at the final whistle.
Morgan Rogers is Villa's star.
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers wins a free-kick on the edge of his own box. And that will probably be enough for Villa.
Comment at the top of this page to share your thoughts
We, Leeds, cannot keep playing well and getting nothing from games. That ends in relegation. Must defend better at that set piece and must take more of our chances created.
Robert
Image source, Getty ImagesAt a glance
Lukas Nmecha's opener for Leeds awarded after lengthy VAR check
Villa equalise three minutes after half-time through Morgan Rogers
Rogers scores second with stunning free-kick to seal win for visitors
Leeds are 18th after third straight loss as pressure build on boss Daniel Farke
Morgan Rogers scored twice as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Leeds United at Elland Road and pile more pressure on home manager Daniel Farke.
Leeds took the lead in chaotic style after just eight minutes. A Sean Longstaff free-kick was played back across goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson and Villa keeper Emi Martinez was outjumped by Anton Stach.
Stach's header was cleared off the line - but deflected in off Leeds striker Lukas Nmecha, with the goal finally awarded after a long check by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Villa needed a response after the break, and found it when Donyell Malen - one of two half-time changes by manager Unai Emery - provided a low cross which Rogers flicked home.
And Rogers completed the turnaround when he netted a stunning free-kick from the edge of the area 15 minutes from time.
The hosts thought they had netted an immediate equaliser, but this time VAR went against them as replays showed Dominic Calvert-Lewin had handled the ball in.
Leeds stay in the Premier League relegation zone after a third straight loss, which will raise further questions about the future of Farke.
Villa meanwhile have won six of their last seven, and will end Sunday in fourth place if Tottenham fail to beat Arsenal in the late kick-off (16:30 GMT).
Rogers 'only getting better' - can he win England battle?
Leeds fans divided - but Farke defiant as pressure mounts
Leeds were 'not good enough' - Farke
When an under-pressure manager sees his team concede a winning goal from a needless free-kick, he may wonder if it is simply not meant to be.
That was what happened to Farke on Sunday, as errors from Gudmundsson and Ao Tanaka lead to Rogers' strike which condemned Leeds to a fifth defeat in six.
It had all started so well too.
They say a team struggling for goals will take one going in off someone's backside. The hosts' opener here came off the back of Nmecha's leg - his third in the league this season, making him their joint-top scorer with centre-back Joe Rodon, and just Leeds' 11th goal of the campaign.
It will perhaps be the messiest goal in the top flight this season, and for a while it looked like it would provide some salve for Leeds - and especially Farke.
But the German - whose position was questioned in the summer despite leading Leeds to promotion - saw his side cede momentum in the second half, and did not help matters with some of his choices.
His persistence with the ineffective Brenden Aaronson - with Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James only used as late substitutes - is a bone of contention with fans, while his decision to take off the sprightly Tanaka cost them midfield bite.
Fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool are up next, so Farke needed a result and performance here. He got half of the former, and none of the latter.
The manager's name was cheered before the game and he was applauded afterwards. However, in the second half, a man carrying a Leeds scarf was apprehended in the technical areas having entered from the stands to berate the home boss.
Emery 'so happy' with Villa players' standards
After failing to win their opening five league games, Villa have now only suffered one defeat in their last seven and could end this weekend in the Champions League places.
That appeared unlikely eight minutes in when Martinez was outmuscled by Stach, although the Argentine made amends in the 88th minute with an excellent low save from Pascal Struijk.
Villa also carried little attacking threat before the break, with Ollie Watkins spurning their best first-half chances - heading wide from six yards under pressure, before curling a 20-yarder past the post in stoppage time.
Watkins' poor form - just one goal in the league this season, a run which perhaps led to him missing out on an England call-up this month - remains an issue.
Fortunately for Emery, another Three Lions attacker stepped up with Rogers scoring two well-taken goals.
Despite this comeback win, some questions remain about Villa's attack as a whole. Of their 15 league goals so far, eight have come from outside the area - perhaps a sign of misfiring strikers.
But Emery's side have quality throughout - and eventually it showed.
Leeds' next two Premier League games are at Man City on Saturday (15:00 GMT kick-off) before Chelsea travel to Elland Road on Wednesday, 3 December (20:15).
Aston Villa host Young Boys in the Europa League on Thursday (17:45) before facing Wolves in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday (14:05).
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 29 |
| |
| 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| |
| 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 22 |
| |
| 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 21 |
| |
| 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 20 |
| |
| 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 19 |
| |
| 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 19 |
| |
| 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 20 | -1 | 19 |
| |
| 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 18 |
| |
| 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 18 |
| |
| 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 18 |
| |
| 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 16 |
| |
| 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 15 |
| |
| 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 15 |
| |
| 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 16 | -3 | 14 |
| |
| 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 12 |
| |
| 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 11 |
| |
| 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 11 |
| |
| 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 24 | -10 | 10 |
| |
| 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 2 |
|
Manager: Daniel Farke
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Daniel Farke
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
High chance of scoring
Medium chance of scoring
Low chance of scoring
Dominant period
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
| Minute | Team with most threat |
|---|---|
Kick off 1' | Aston Villa |
2' | Aston Villa |
3' | Aston Villa |
4' | Aston Villa |
5' | Aston Villa |
6' | Leeds United |
7' | Leeds United |
8' | Leeds UnitedGoal |
9' | Leeds United |
10' | Leeds United |
11' | Leeds United |
12' | Leeds United |
13' | Aston Villa |
14' | Aston Villa |
15' | Aston Villa |
16' | Leeds United |
17' | Leeds United |
18' | Aston Villa |
19' | Aston Villa |
20' | Leeds United |
21' | Leeds United |
22' | Leeds United |
23' | Leeds United |
24' | Leeds United |
25' | Leeds United |
26' | Leeds United |
27' | Leeds United |
28' | Aston Villa |
29' | Aston Villa |
30' | Aston Villa |
31' | Aston Villa |
32' | Aston Villa |
33' | Aston Villa |
34' | Aston Villa |
35' | Leeds United |
36' | Leeds United |
37' | Leeds United |
38' | Leeds United |
39' | Leeds United |
40' | Aston Villa |
41' | Aston Villa |
42' | Aston Villa |
43' | Aston Villa |
44' | Aston Villa |
45' | Aston Villa |
45'+1 | Aston Villa |
45'+2 | Aston Villa |
45'+3 | Aston Villa |
45'+4 | Aston Villa |
45'+5 | Aston Villa |
45'+6 | Aston Villa |
Half time 45'+7 | Aston Villa |
46' | Aston Villa |
47' | Aston Villa |
48' | Aston VillaGoal |
49' | Aston Villa |
50' | Aston Villa |
51' | Aston Villa |
52' | Aston Villa |
53' | Aston Villa |
54' | Aston Villa |
55' | Leeds United |
56' | Leeds United |
57' | Aston Villa |
58' | Aston Villa |
59' | Aston Villa |
60' | Aston Villa |
61' | Aston Villa |
62' | Aston Villa |
63' | Aston Villa |
64' | Aston Villa |
65' | Aston Villa |
66' | Leeds United |
67' | Leeds United |
68' | Leeds United |
69' | Aston Villa |
70' | Aston Villa |
71' | Aston Villa |
72' | Aston Villa |
73' | Aston Villa |
74' | Leeds United |
75' | Leeds UnitedGoal |
76' | Leeds United |
77' | Leeds United |
78' | Leeds United |
79' | Leeds United |
80' | Leeds United |
81' | Leeds United |
82' | Leeds United |
83' | Leeds United |
84' | Leeds United |
85' | Aston Villa |
86' | Aston Villa |
87' | Leeds United |
88' | Leeds United |
89' | Leeds United |
90' | Leeds United |
90'+1 | Leeds United |
90'+2 | Leeds United |
90'+3 | Leeds United |
90'+4 | Leeds United |
90'+5 | Leeds United |
90'+6 | Leeds United |
Full time 90'+7 | Leeds United |
Premier League
All competitions
All competitions
Leeds are winless in their last five Premier League games against Aston Villa (D2 L3), since a 3-0 away win in October 2020.
Aston Villa have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League away games against Leeds (W4 D6), going down 3-1 in May 2003 under Graham Taylor.
Leeds have failed to score in each of their last three home league games against Aston Villa – they’ve never gone four without a goal at Elland Road against an opponent, while only at Everton (a current run of five) have Aston Villa kept more consecutive clean sheets.
Each of Leeds’ last seven Premier League wins have been against sides starting the day in 13th place or lower in the table. They’ve won none of their last 17 against sides in the top half (D6 L11) since a 2-1 win at Liverpool (8th) in October 2022.
Aston Villa are unbeaten in all 17 of their Premier League games against promoted sides under Unai Emery (W13 D4), with their last defeat coming in Steven Gerrard’s final game in charge in October 2022 (0-3 vs Fulham).
Aston Villa (20% - scored 3/15) and Leeds United (22.7% - 5/22) are the two lowest ranked sides for big chance conversion in the Premier League so far this season. Indeed, only bottom side Wolves (6.7%) have a lower shot conversion rate overall than Leeds (7.6%).
Aston Villa have scored more goals from outside the box than any other side in the Premier League this season, netting more from distance (7) than they have from inside the area (6). It’s already as many goals as they scored from outside the area than they managed in the whole of last season.
Leeds have scored a league-high share 80% of their Premier League goals in the first half of games this season (8/10). Each of their last three strikes have come in the opening 15 minutes of games, with no side netting more in this time period overall than the Whites this term (3).
Emiliano Buendía has been involved in five goals in his last five Premier League appearances for Aston Villa (3 goals, 2 assists), averaging a goal involvement every 39 minutes in these games. It’s as many goal involvements as he’d recorded in his previous 37 league appearances.
Only Erling Haaland (11) has won more attacking first contacts at corners in the Premier League this season than Leeds defender Joe Rodon (10).
