Amadou Onana and substitute Jhon Duran were on target as Aston Villa returned to winning ways with a 2-1 Premier League win at Leicester.
Ollie Watkins was twice denied by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen but Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee saw his work pay off after Onana rounded off a well-worked move from a dangerous free-kick to give the visitors a half-time advantage.
The King Power Stadium is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Villa, who are now unbeaten in their last four visits.
Jamie Vardy had a goal ruled out after the ball hit the referee in the build-up but Duran climbed off the bench to double Villa’s advantage, while deadline-day signing Facundo Buonanotte’s effort proved to be just a consolation.
Villa were denied an opener after Youri Tielemans put Watkins through one on one with Hermansen but the keeper bravely got down to stop the striker from rounding him and putting into an empty net.
The visitors suffered an early blow after Leon Bailey was forced off the field with a hamstring injury.
Villa began to assert their dominance midway through the first half but Hermansen proved to be Watkins’ nemesis again after he palmed his effort away from goal.
Villa took the lead with a move straight from the training ground after Oliver Skipp had tripped Watkins.
Leicester had the warning signs – Tielemans orchestrating the move once again when he slipped in Jacob Ramsey, who played across for Onana to tap home.
Leicester rallied and Emi Martinez was forced into his first save on the stroke of half-time to deny Skipp’s drilled effort from range.
The Foxes started the second half much brighter than the first as Caleb Okoli and Jordan Ayew fired over.
Vardy had the ball in the back of the net but play
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