Lively El Ghazi has last laugh SIMON MULLOCK
VERDICT FROM ELLAND ROAD
ANWAR El GHAZI doesn’t get into Patrick Bamford’s Fantasy Football team.
Which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given the Aston Villa winger has got a bit of history with the Leeds United striker.
Villa fans haven’t forgotten – or it seems forgiven – Bamford for the theatrics which saw El Ghazi sent-off when the two men tangled at Elland Road in the Championship two seasons ago.
It was the Midlands club who went up through the play-offs that year, though.
El Ghazi’s red card was overturned – and he scored the Wembley winner against Derby while Marcelo Bielsa was back in Argentina wondering what might have been had his star striker not been retrospectively banned.
But football fans have never been the most indulgent of souls.
Bamford still gets grief on social media – although that might also have something to do with him knocking Dean Smith’s side spark out with a hat-trick at Villa Park earlier in the season.
Perhaps the Leeds forward will finally get some peace after El Ghazi returned to Elland Road to exact a touch more retribution.
The Dutchman’s first-half finish lifted Villa into eighth place in the table – and proved they can indeed win without the mercurial talents of Jack Grealish.
This was their first Premier League win without their captain for five years.
Villa boss Dean Smith (above) has banned his players from having a bit of online fun with the seven million other subscribers to the Premier League’s Fantasy Football game.
Smith was furious when he discovered that news of an injury to Grealish leaked out of the camp last week after a bit of insider trading.
That the midfielder was missing again – along with Leeds captain Kalvin Phillips – would have disappointed watching England boss Gareth Southgate.
But Southgate still saw enough to keep him warm as he plans towards next month’s three World Cup qualifiers.
Tyrone Mings was wearing the Villa armband – and he produced a performance of such authority that Bielsa’s team only forced three decent chances.
At the other end of the pitch, Ollie Watkins led Villa’s line with speed in both body and mind.
Leeds could have been ahead inside 30 seconds when Bamford bamboozled Matt Targett and Ezri Konsa with a step over and then sent a shot wide with Raphinha sliding in at the far post.
Villa should have had a penalty soon afterwards when the ball struck Luke Ayling on the hand but referee Peter Bankes saw nothing untoward and VAR official Darren England must have been putting the kettle on.
But any sense of injustice was dispelled when El Ghazi struck after five minutes.
Watkins slipped as he attempted a shot and the ball sliced towards El Ghazi.
His first touch to control was only bettered by the finish.
El Ghazi would have been disappointed not to have had the match ball by half-time.
After Leeds had threatened an instant equaliser when Tyler Roberts’ shot was beaten out by Emiliano Martinez, the Dutchman was twice denied by keeper Illan Meslier.
El Ghazi then drilled another shot just wide with Meslier well beaten.
Bielsa has never been one to let a game drift.
Early in the second half he ditched his three-man defensive system in a bid to get his team on the front foot.
But with Villa digging in like a battalion of pals on the Western Front, the home side were repelled with ease.
Raphinha headed Leeds’ best chance wide with time running out to leave Bielsa screaming in frustration.
And the sight of keeper Meslier dashing into the Villa box for a late corner summed up their desperation.
Bamford didn’t get another chance to add to the 13 goals that have put him in the frame for the Golden Boot.
But at least he will get some points for having Villa duo Martinez and
Targett in his fantasy team.
El Ghazi’s finish lifted Villa into eighth place and proved they can win without the mercurial talents of Jack Grealish