Posted in Premier League, Leicester City

Aston Villa sitting deep and the Foxes lacking purpose!!

 April 23, 2022

Aston Villa, A dreary goalless draw is perhaps the most likely conclusion when one team is aiming for a European final

and the other is attempting not to repeat the sequence that lost their last manager his job.

On Thursday, Leicester will face Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the opening leg of their Europa League semi-final,

while Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard has brought his club here after four straight defeats. Last November,

Dean Smith was fired after five consecutive defeats,

and while Gerrard has nothing to worry about there, he has no desire to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.

Even Jamie Vardy’s return as a second-half substitute,

his first since March 5 and only his third of an injury-plagued 2022, couldn’t save the game.

For the whole of the game,

Leicester held possession of the ball without ever appearing to be on the verge of breaking through.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa‘s offence was strong, and the centre-back pairing of Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings was outstanding – good news for Gerrard following his team’s last game.

a 4-0 home loss to Tottenham.

Brendan Rodgers’ attention have now turned to Europe,

while Gerrard has been pondering how he might develop a team to replicate them for some time.

Wesley Fofana has been unstoppable since returning from injury,

so it was surprising to see him make the error that almost allowed Villa to score early.

Many Villa fans were perplexed by Bailey’s selection ahead of Emiliano Buendia on social media,

and this was hardly the way to persuade them otherwise.

At the other end, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drilled across goal after an entertaining midfield duel with John McGinn,

and Ashley Young did just enough to prevent the overlapping Justin from giving Leicester the lead.

There was little to entertain the audience before the interval,

with Villa sitting deep and the Foxes lacking purpose in their approach work. Vardy going on a stroll down the touchline drew the loudest applause of the half.

Caglar Soyuncu’s health

was briefly question as the Leicester defender fell awkwardly after leaping above Watkins to head clear,

he was allowed to continue following treatment.