Morgan Rogers delivered a brilliant second-half brace to inspire Aston Villa to a 2–1 comeback win over Leeds United at Elland Road, turning up the pressure on under-fire Leeds boss Daniel Farke. The defeat, Leeds’ third in a row, keeps them inside the Premier League relegation zone and raises further doubts about the direction of a team struggling for goals, confidence and structure.
The afternoon had begun with rare optimism for the home supporters, who saw their side make the perfect start inside eight minutes. A Sean Longstaff free-kick sparked a chaotic sequence in the Villa box. Gabriel Gudmundsson headed the ball across goal, and Emi Martinez, unusually hesitant, was beaten in the air by Anton Stach. Stach’s header was cleared off the line but ricocheted off Lukas Nmecha and into the net. After a lengthy three-and-a-half-minute VAR review, the goal stood—officially Nmecha’s third of the league campaign and Leeds’ 11th league goal of the season.
But as has often been the case this year, Leeds failed to make their early momentum count. The hosts battled gamely throughout the first half, but their attacking spark fizzled after the opener. Brenden Aaronson laboured in midfield, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin, starting again despite poor form, struggled to find space against the composed Villa centre-backs.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, entered the break frustrated but far from finished. Manager Unai Emery made two halftime changes, including the introduction of Donyell Malen—a decision that quickly transformed the match. Just three minutes into the second half, Malen drove down the right and whipped in a low cross that Rogers met with a clever near-post flick, drawing Villa level.
From that moment forward, Villa controlled the rhythm, while Leeds grew increasingly ragged. The home side’s midfield, previously energetic, lost its structure once Farke substituted the lively Ao Tanaka. Supporters’ frustration was clear, and when Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James—long preferred by fans—were brought on too late to influence proceedings, the boos around Elland Road grew louder.
The decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute. Leeds conceded a needless free-kick on the edge of their box, and Rogers stepped up with confidence. His curling effort flew over the wall and dipped perfectly beyond Lucas Perri, completing his brace and silencing the home crowd. It was a moment of real quality from the England U21 international, whose form continues to rise while Villa’s other attackers—particularly Ollie Watkins—struggle for consistency.
Leeds thought they had equalised almost immediately when Calvert-Lewin bundled the ball in from close range, but VAR intervened again, this time ruling the goal out for handball. It was a crushing blow for a side already low on belief, and one that summed up Leeds’ afternoon: effort without reward, intent without precision.
Villa nearly added a third late on, but Perri produced an excellent low save to deny Pascal Struijk. It mattered little, as Villa comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure their sixth win in seven Premier League matches. If Tottenham fail to beat Arsenal later in the day, Villa will finish the weekend inside the top four—an impressive turnaround after failing to win any of their opening five games of the season.
For Leeds, the pressure intensifies. Farke was cheered before kickoff and applauded by many fans afterwards, but dissent is growing. One supporter even made his way into the technical area during play to confront the manager before being removed. With fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool coming next, Leeds’ situation could worsen before it improves.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, look increasingly confident under Emery, whose adjustments and tactical clarity turned the match. With Rogers emerging as a reliable attacking threat and the defence stabilising, Villa’s upward trajectory continues at pace.
