Is history repeating for the promoted sides?published at 14:15 6 January
14:15 6 January
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty Images
There is still a way to go, but it is looking a remarkably similar story for the three promoted sides this season as it was last season.
Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have taken just 35 points from 59 games between them – the exact same amount of points Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United had on this day last year who ended up being the worst promoted trio in PL history.
Southampton being the worst-side ever at this stage does not help, but it is uncanny how similar not just points total is, but also how similar their goal differences are to last year's trio.
Sam: Much better in the second half! It's encouraging to see players like Emi Buendia back on the pitch with Tyrone Mings also coming into form. Our challenge is to try and ensure consistency across the 90 minutes, but to be four points off fourth is a sign of how far Unai Emery has taken us. Let's hope this encourages some of our fans to be more positive.
Alex: It will do, considering we are missing some of our key players like Morgan Rogers, Jhon Duran and Pau Torres. A massive goal for Bailey, he desperately needed that. Barkley with an incredible performance and finish! A good three points to get back on track and start 2025.
Jay: Very laboured and we should have put them out of sight before they scored. Villa's second string are not looking strong or creative again. I'm particularly upset about no clean sheet again. There was a poor lay-off from Ollie Watkins - just to add to his bad finishing - and then Matty Cash compounded his own bad game by not charging at Stephy Mavididi.
Cassie: Deserved win but Villa still need a striker to put the ball in the back of the net. Mings showed his class today, just like Ross Barkley. At times, Villa showed too much lack of desire to finish off the game. I don't think Emery knows who his best 11 players are.
Leicester fans
James: A lack of quality in the attacking third, specifically Mavididi, and a costly mistake at the back by James Justin resulted in another defeat. The rot has now carried through into another year. A new right-back, winger and striker are urgently needed in January, otherwise the Championship and the dark abyss beckons.
JB: There has got to be a message sent out to players that if you can't safely play the ball out of the back, clear it upfield! You give up potential possession but alleviate the chances of losing the ball in your box and conceding a possible goal, hence the second goal. Going down it seems and we won't be straight back up either. Perhaps just as well. We need a complete rebuild, including the manager and maybe new owners. It appears to have grown stale. Keep the faith.
Paul: Same old! Justin needs to be taken out of the firing line. The amount of goals that come down our right side is embarrassing.
Tony: Five losses in a row. This is beyond a joke. I thought the idea of a new manager was to improve?
Emery 'the coolest person inside Villa Park' as Foxes 'lacked cutting edge'published at 09:41 6 January
09:41 6 January
Ben Mundy Final Score reporter at Villa Park
Image source, Getty Images
On face value, Saturday's result at Villa Park went with form.
Aston Villa extended their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 10 games, while Leicester City succumbed to their fifth straight defeat.
But after the game, as I sat in the bumper-kissing traffic waiting to get on to the M6, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the Foxes.
They played well in large parts but just lacked a clear cutting edge. And yes I know Jamie Vardy was playing, but he barely touched the ball in the first half.
If Ruud van Nistelrooy's side are to avoid the drop, they will need more than a solitary goal threat.
Leicester and their manager almost executed the perfect gameplan. Sitting in and defending the edge of their box in the first half, emerging a minute earlier than Villa after half-time and starting the second period on the front foot.
But defensive frailties, notably tackling and clearing lines, proved their undoing.
If - and it is a big if - they can find the goals and fix those frailties, Leicester might just have enough to stay up. They clearly have a manager with a plan.
Aston Villa certainly do as well. There was no panic from Unai Emery on Saturday. He cut the coolest person inside Villa Park, despite having to wait an hour for an opening goal.
Striker Ollie Watkins told me before the game that he wanted Villa's 2025 to be a continuation of their 2024 exploits.
On this evidence, his New Year's resolution will be achieved.
Foxes must 'scrap and pick up points' after 'another game struck off' - Stowellpublished at 07:42 6 January
07:42 6 January
Image source, Getty Images
Former Leicester City goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell says Ruud van Nistelrooy's side need to stamp out their "individual errors" if they want to stay in the Premier League.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast after the Foxes were beaten 2-1 at Aston Villa - a fifth straight defeat - Stowell said: "You absolutely can't gift goals to other teams.
"Leicester played for 94 minutes at a really decent level, yet two individual moments cost them and that won't be good enough to stay in the Premier League, if it continues.
"It is the team that holds their nerve most [that are going to survive relegation]. You have got to scrap and pick up points.
"Sometimes you can't come to Villa Park, play brilliantly and get three points - but you can come here, be dogged in a scruffy game and pick up one point.
"It is a tally to get to that magical 36 or 37 points, which will keep you in the league, but that is another game struck off now.
"There are now 18 games to get themselves another 22 points."
'It is disappointing we didn't take anything from this game'published at 18:49 4 January
18:49 4 January
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to Match of the Day following the defeat at Villa Park: "We were on course to get something out of this game. The first goal was a corner in the second-phase shot. The second goal, we lost the ball ourselves in a place where we shouldn't.
"Overall, we controlled the game and didn't give big chances away. That is why it is disappointing we didn't take anything from this game.
"It was a difficult one, but we have to make sure we get these performances and convert them into points as well.
"We knew from last week against Manchester City that we were in the game and pushing for points. In that sense, if we can maintain the level then we should convert it into points."
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester: Key statpublished at 18:06 4 January
18:06 4 January
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester City have lost five successive Premier League games for the first time since September 2022 (6), keeping just one clean sheet in their last 21 matches in the competition (a 1-0 win v Bournemouth in October).
Image source, Getty Images
