Entering the week with the European positions firmly in their sights having despatched Chelsea on Saturday, Villa continued their positive form in the early part of this all-Midlands encounter, taking a deserved lead midway through the first half.
As he so often does on the road, it was Ollie Watkins who found the net first, poking home from inside the penalty area having broken in behind the Leicester backline.
Parting ways with Brendan Rodgers on Sunday afternoon, the Foxes were searching for a much-needed new manager bounce, but it looked like being the same old story for the home fans inside the King Power Stadium.
Just when hope might’ve been dwindling, Harvey Barnes stepped up with a sensational solo goal to restore parity at the break. Dancing his way through the Villa defence, the 25-year-old expertly converted with a composed right-footed strike.
Having worked hard to carve a route back into the contest, it looked as if Leicester’s endeavours would count for nothing when the home side were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes to go.
Charging into Ashley Young on the halfway line, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall wouldn’t be granted a reprieve by referee Graham Scott, as the Leicester man picked up a second yellow of the evening.
Unsurprisingly, Villa, now sensing blood, began to put the pressure on in search of a winning goal that would take them even closer to the continental positions. It would arrive stylishly from Bertrand Traoré, whose curling left-footed strike lobbed over Daniel Iversen in the Leicester goal to send the travelling Villa fans into raptures.
In truth, it was somewhat of a let off for Villa, who had failed to create a great deal since Dewsbury-Hall’s clumsy red card.
However, as has often been the case in the Premier League this season, the drama wouldn’t end there.
Just when it looked as if Leicester would be condemned to their seventh defeat in eight matches, Scott pointed to the spot to give the home side a chance to equalise.
Or at least that’s what they thought. Patson Daka and Watkins had come together inside the 18-yard box, but upon a VAR review, the referee overturned his original decision, denying Leicester the opportunity of a point.
The result continues the upwards trajectory for Unai Emery and Co, whereas for manager-less Leicester, they now have less than 10 games to drag themselves out of a cutthroat relegation battle.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
