Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester: Leon Bailey bags first of the season to sink stubborn Foxes

The next time top managers want to campaign for a regular winter break, they can simply send the film of this match to Premier League CEO Richard Masters.

We all love our festive football, but this was the Christmas hangover as two groups of tired bodies and minds struggled to produce the quality and entertainment that makes this the most marketable competition in the world.

To prove the point, each side lost a key man to injury, with Villa skipper John McGinn leaving in the first half and Leicester defender Jannik Vestergaard in the second.

All three goals were the result of mistakes, with Aston Villa winning as they made one fewer decisive mistake than Leicester. Ross Barkley opened the scoring for the home side and after Stephy Mavididi had equalized, Leon Bailey hit the winner – his first of the season – as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men fell asleep at the back.

Although Villa lacked inspiration without the suspended Morgan Rogers and Jhon Duran, this victory does keep them in touch with the race for European football next season.

However, things are starting to look bleak for Leicester, who suffered their fifth defeat in a row. It’s hard to see how the visitors escape the bottom three, especially with limited resources available to strengthen the squad in January.

Ross Barkley had given Unai Emery’s goal just before the hour the lead after a turgid first half

A few minutes later the Foxes roared back into it thanks to a fine volley from Stephy Mavididi

Leicester created their first quality chance early in the second half and it was more down to Villa’s sloppiness than their own creativity.

Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash failed to clear Harry Winks’ ball into the penalty area, allowing Bilal El Khannouss to collect and feed Mavididi. In an excellent position on the corner, Leicester produced a terrible effort that did not bother Emi Martinez.

The action had been no better in the first half, which was played at a desperately slow pace. McGinn was taken off injured early on and neither goalkeeper could save until Jakub Stolarcyzk parried Cash’s drive from 20 yards.

Just when Leicester started to look the better team, Villa scored. Vestergaard’s header to clear Youri Tielemans’ cross lacked power, allowing Barkley to collect the ball and hammer it past Stolarczyk from 20 yards.

The lead lasted only five minutes. As Mings misjudged the bounce of the ball, Jordan Ayew flew past him and although Martinez saved Jamie Vardy’s first finish, Mavididi reacted quickest to slam home the loose ball.

Given the quality of the match, it was fitting that the third would come from another blunder. Jordan Ayew switched off and didn’t realize Ian Maatsen sprinted behind him to steal James Justin’s underhit pass. After a one-two with fellow substitute Jacob Ramsey, Maatsen ensured that Bailey got past Stolarczyk.

Villa should have sealed it when Bailey whipped an angled effort against the crossbar, but neither Emi Buendia nor Ollie Watkins could get the finish as Watkins pulled over an open goal from six yards.