Aston Villa came from behind to claim a 2-1 Premier League victory over Leeds United at Elland Road, extending their unbeaten run in this fixture to six matches.

With several relegation rivals picking up points on Saturday, the pressure was on Leeds to respond, and they began brightly. Their early intensity was rewarded in the opening 10 minutes through a slice of luck: Anton Stach recycled a half-cleared free-kick, and Ezri Konsa’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Lukas Nmecha and rolled over the line for the opener.

Villa offered little in return during the first half. Emiliano Buendía’s free-kick, which sailed harmlessly over the bar, was the closest they came to an immediate reply. The game itself was scrappy, disrupted by frequent stoppages and difficult conditions, and Leeds adapted far better.

Daniel Farke’s side looked more likely to double their lead but struggled to create real scoring chances. Their best effort came when Brenden Aaronson connected with a volley from the edge of the box, only for Emiliano Martínez to parry it away.

Villa finally threatened just before the break when Ollie Watkins curled an effort narrowly wide, signalling they were still very much in the contest.

Unai Emery was dissatisfied with his side’s first-half display and made a double substitution at the interval. The changes paid instant dividends. Within three minutes of the restart, Donyell Malen whipped in a dangerous cross that Morgan Rogers diverted into the net at the near post, hauling Villa level and shifting the momentum.

Malen continued to trouble the Leeds defence and came close to putting Villa ahead when his deflected strike flashed just wide. But it was one of Emery’s initial starters who delivered the decisive moment.

Rogers, who has repeatedly stepped up for Villa this season, produced another moment of brilliance by curling a sublime free-kick over the wall and past a rooted Lucas Perri to make it 2-1.

Leeds briefly thought they had equalised when Dominic Calvert-Lewin forced in a Dan James cross, but the goal was ruled out for handball, keeping Villa in front.

The hosts applied late pressure but couldn’t carve out the clear chance they needed. Their final opportunity came through Pascal Struijk’s header, easily gathered by Martínez.

Villa held on to secure a vital three points, a result that lifts them back into the Premier League’s top four—at least for the time being.