Aston Villa 2-1 Leeds LIVE REACTION: Hosts overcome double injury blow to earn huge win and move level on points with Chelsea

Aston Villa earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Leeds United on Friday night to move level on points with Chelsea.

The Villans had Emiliano Martinez and new man Alex Moreno to thank for the three points against an excellent Leeds side.

The hosts opened the scoring in the third minute when Villa broke from a Leeds corner and found Leon Bailey - he cut in from the right and curled a shot into the top corner.

Jesse Marsch's side responded well and saw Moreno block Rodrigo's effort off the line before Martinez produced an incredible save to stop Jack Harrison.

Villa doubled their lead when Bailey's shot was parried out by Illan Meslier and Emiliano Buendia looped a header over the despairing Frenchman.

But substitute Patrick Bamford set up a nervy finish at Villa Park when Wilfried Gnonto found him in the box and he calmly stroked the ball home.

Leeds pushed for an equaliser, but it wasn't their night.