Aston Villa - v - Leeds United ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

Friday 8pm KO.

Dean Smith is likely to name an unchanged side as his Aston Villa side look to go top of the table for the first time since August 2011.

Keinan Davis could overcome a calf problem in time to be involved but Kortney Hause is still sidelined.

Pascal Struijk will deputise for Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who will be unavailable for several weeks because of a shoulder injury.

Liam Cooper is a doubt due to a groin problem and Diego Llorente remains out.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Aston Villa won 2-0 in the most recent Premier League meeting in February 2004. It's one of only two victories in their past 13 fixtures against Leeds in all competitions.

This is the first match between Villa and Leeds since a 1-1 Championship draw at Elland Road in April 2019, when the hosts*allowed Villa to equalise uncontested*from kick-off after Mateusz Klich scored a contentious opening goal.

Aston Villa

Villa have started a season with four successive league wins for the first time since 1930-31. They have never won their opening five games.

Dean Smith's side can equal the club Premier League record of five consecutive victories, set in 1996 and matched in 1998.Villa's current eight-match unbeaten streak is their longest in the Premier League since a run of 10 games ended in October 2011.

They can win each of their opening three home matches of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2006-07.The Villans are the only club not to have trailed in a Premier League fixture this season.Villa have conceded two top-flight goals this season, four fewer than any other club.

Dean Smith is winless in all three league matches as a manager versus Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds (D2, L1).

Leeds United

The Whites are attempting to win consecutive Premier League away matches for the first time in 18 years.They can also keep back-to-back Premier League away clean sheets for the first time since April 2002.

Leeds have seven points after five matches. The other two promoted clubs have amassed a combined three points this season.

They are one short of 100 Premier League away defeats.Striker Patrick Bamford is looking to score in the club's first three away league matches of a season for a second consecutive year.

Pablo Hernandez has been directly involved in six goals in seven league starts against Aston Villa, with one goal and five assists.

1 - 1.

MOT.

[Billyni]

They shouldn’t have got promoted.
Then they should have been relegated.
I just fear they are much too sneaky for us.

[Billyni]

Wonder what Pontus will be thinking when he’s watching this one?

[Rev72]

Seems the Villa think we are going to get thumped!

[spaldy]

the ref will be a huge factor in this one.

Villa has the two biggest divers in the prem and both are attacking players. They go down like cheap hookers. If the ref calls every time they fall it will be good for at least 2 goals. we aren't likely to score more than 2.

Unfortunate in the age of VAR and no fans in the stands that the refs can be so imcompetent on flops and dives. No real excuse for it anymore. Both watkins and grealish have been diving for years. Not a big secret.

Like our chances however. think costa and harrison could have big games. Koch is coming along nicely and I think that Strujik will be highly motivated.

Hope the villa fans bet this one up a storm. only a small payoff for a win for us. for such a "dominant team" they don't get very good odds.

[ozleeds]

the ref will be a huge factor in this one.

Villa has the two biggest divers in the prem and both are attacking players. They go down like cheap hookers. If the ref calls every time they fall it will be good for at least 2 goals. we aren't likely to score more than 2.

Unfortunate in the age of VAR and no fans in the stands that the refs can be so imcompetent on flops and dives. No real excuse for it anymore. Both watkins and grealish have been diving for years. Not a big secret.

Like our chances however. think costa and harrison could have big games. Koch is coming along nicely and I think that Strujik will be highly motivated.

Hope the villa fans bet this one up a storm. only a small payoff for a win for us. for such a "dominant team" they don't get very good odds.

Can only imagine what will happen as when we go for a tackle and pull out we still cop a penalty so with specialist divers in the penalty area we might as well not bother going near them.

[ozleeds]

F this stager and commentators are in awe of him unreal.

[denver11]

Wee bas ta that Grealish, making sure the ref counted 1 foul against Dallas. Hate him.

[Jezleeds]

Wee bas ta that Grealish, making sure the ref counted 1 foul against Dallas. Hate him.

'Ref? That's one.' Pointing at Dallas. Sc umhole. And diving for a pen later - who'd have thought he would do such things?

[ozleeds]

Lol villa players are falling over like they are shot