LEEDS, England : Leeds United remain firmly embroiled in a Premier League relegation battle after they slipped to a 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Thursday in American coach Jesse Marsch’s first home game in charge.
Sitting two points above the drop zone coming into the match, Leeds lacked quality in forward areas as they looked for a first win in eight games, with the hosts falling behind in the 22nd minute when Philippe Coutinho’s strike crept in.
The Elland Road crowd grew frustrated as their team misplacing pass after pass, allowing Villa to add a second through full back Matty Cash in the 65th minute and end the clash as a contest.
There was still time for Calum Chambers to curl a sublime third for Villa as fans headed for an early exit, with their side two points clear of Burnley in 18th but having played two games more.
Villa’s third win in a row lifted them to ninth in the standings.
In this first programme notes, Marsch was quick to point out that he has the utmost respect for his popular predecessor Marcelo Bielsa, and the American’s team played in the same high tempo style early on at Elland Road.
However, Villa looked much more threatening up front and the pressure told as Coutinho netted his fourth goal since arriving on loan from Barcelona in January, aided by Leeds defender Pascal Struijk’s deflection.
Another errant Leeds pass was almost punished as John McGinn arrowed a strike that looked to be heading for the bottom corner, only for Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier to spring across to make a fine save.
Marsch, who was very animated on the touchline, introduced fit-again striker Patrick Bamford off the bench to try to rouse his side, but it remained all Villa as Danny Ings picked out Cash with the perfect pass and the full back finished expertly.
Further chances came and went for Villa, but the third was worth the wait as Chambers’ first goal for the club fizzed into the top corner to put the visitors out of sight.
There were boos aplenty at the final whistle, mixed in with songs about their former manager, as Leeds fans let their feelings be known.
Leeds have now lost six consecutive Premier League games for the first time since February, 2004, and it was the first time they have lost four top-flight games in a row without scoring since 1982.
(Reporting by Peter Hall, editing by Ed Osmond)
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