This Midlands derby combusted in stoppage time as 19 players became embroiled in a fracas sparked by Matty James’s dangerous tackle on Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark’s strong-arm response. But if there was any benefit for Aston Villa in the spotlight falling on James and Clark as they were separated by coaching staff and stewards running down the tunnel after their red cards, it was that their 3,000 travelling fans suspended their impassioned calls for Paul Lambert to receive his own dismissal.
As Leicester City pulled to within two points of 17th place thanks to Paul Konchesky’s fine goal in time added on at the end of the first half, momentum and stability suggest they have a greater chance of retaining their Premier League status than Villa, even though the West Midlands side are still two points above the dreaded dotted line.
With four red cards and just one goal from their past six league games, Villa appear in something of a freefall that Randy Lerner, their chairman in absentia, shows no sign of addressing. Tom Fox, the chief executive, will show his mettle this month as he either gives Lambert the requisite backing in the transfer market or takes the decisive action Villa fans have started beseeching and changes manager.
After two and a half years at the helm, Lambert seems no nearer improving Villa’s status, which has dwindled over the five years since they finished sixth for the third successive season. How culpable he can be judged to be is a moot point as the club have scaled down their squad in this period but, while the players are playing for him, and Clark and others showed their passion, the overall direction is downwards. When that follows two seasons of finishing 15th, that is dangerous. Villa are in a no-man’s land that by next season could look a lot like the Championship.
Leicester made it four games unbeaten, their best run this season, and no one could argue that they did not deserve their win, only their second at home this season. Leicester’s faith in Nigel Pearson, who went 13 games and three months without a win after that memorable 5-3 triumph over Manchester United in September, is looking vindicated as his team continue to play without fear and with every chance of making a good fist of staying up.
Leicester made it seven points from three league games, in addition to last week’s FA Cup victory over Newcastle United, as they finished the first half strongly.
Villa, with Ashley Westwood playing excellently alongside the powerful Carlos Sánchez in the centre of midfield, had been the better team early on without threatening in the final third.
When David Nugent smashed a superb shot against the underside of the crossbar three minutes before half-time and Leonardo Ulloa headed over, Villa’s resistance looked in danger of breaking. Sure enough, Leicester made the all-important breakthrough when Konchesky scored with a cracking shot. Danny Simpson’s throw from the right-hand side was nodded on by Nugent for Ulloa to chest and volley on and over himself into the area where, with Alan Hutton only managing half a clearance, Konchesky arrived to swivel and hammer in a fine strike off Brad Guzan’s right-hand post.
This must have felt like justice for Konchesky, who had been sent off in the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park five weeks ago when he nuzzled foreheads with Hutton, shortly after the Villa full-back had scored the winning goal.
Leicester are at home again next week, to Stoke City, when Pearson hopes to have Andrej Kramaric available after the £9.5 million Croatia striker’s work permit hearing. “He’s a young man we’ve followed for a long time,” Pearson said. “He’s not just a rabbit out of a hat. But if we can get the work permit, then he’ll just add to what we’ve got. It’s not a case of replacing what we have, it’s supplementing what we have.”
Nugent could have scored when he stretched on to Marc Albrighton’s cross on the break in the first half, when Anthony Knockaert was begging for the striker to leave the chance to him, and Leicester also enjoyed the better of the chances in a second half in which they sat back and invited Villa on to them.
The visitors only managed one shot on target, Benteke’s weak shot saved early in the second half, and Pearson was justified in claiming his team were deserved winners. “We easily created the better chances in both halves,” the Leicester manager said. “It’s a welcome three points but points we deserved.”
