- Stephy Mavididi scored on a volley to counter Ross Barkley's excellent first goal.
- Bailey then produced a winner to give Villa their ninth league win of the season.
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The next time top-flight managers want to campaign for a regular winter break, they should send this match film to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
We all love Christmas football, but the hangover usually comes with the games in early January. Two sets of tired bodies and minds struggled to produce the quality or entertainment that makes this the most marketable league in the world.
To prove it, each team lost a key man to injury: Aston Villa captain John McGinn went off in the first half and Leicester defender Jannik Vestergaard in the second. McGinn has a suspected hamstring injury that could keep him out for more than a month.
The three goals were the result of errors and Villa won because they scored one less. Ross Barkley opened the scoring for the hosts and after Stephy Mavididi equalized, Leon Bailey scored the winning goal, his first of the season, as Ruud van Nistelrooy's men fell asleep in defence.
“Leicester competed very well, so to get three points is fantastic for us, especially because the league is very close,” said Villa manager Unai Emery. “It was a difficult game, difficult to create clear chances.”
Although Villa lacked inspiration without suspended pair Morgan Rogers and Jhon Durán, this victory keeps them in touch with the race for Europe.
Leon Bailey scored for the first time this season to give Aston Villa the lead for the second time.
Ross Barkley had put forward Unai Emery's goal just before the hour mark after a turgid first half.
The Foxes came back strongly thanks to an excellent volley from Stephy Mavididi minutes later.
However, things are starting to look bleak for Leicester, who suffered their fifth consecutive defeat.
It's hard to see the visitors escaping the bottom three, especially with the limited funds available in January.
Van Nistelrooy said: “It was a decent performance but the two goals came from our mistakes.” “Those situations will be punished in the Premier League in the blink of an eye.”
Leicester created their first quality chance early in the second half and it was more down to Villa's carelessness than their own creativity.
Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash failed to handle Harry Winks' ball in the box, allowing Bilal El Khannouss to recover and feed Mavididi.
In an excellent spot in the corner, the winger made a disastrous shot that did not worry Emi Martínez.
The action had not been better in the first half, which was played at a desperately slow pace.
McGinn was forced off injured early on and neither goalkeeper could make a save until Jakub Stolarcyzk saved Cash's shot from 20 yards.
Just when Leicester were starting to look confident, Villa scored. Vestergaard's header to clear Youri Tielemans' cross lacked power, allowing Barkley to pick it up and hammer past Stolarczyk from 20 yards.
John McGinn suffered a suspected hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined for more than a month
However, things are starting to look bleak for Leicester, who suffered their fifth consecutive defeat.
The lead lasted just five minutes. When Mings misjudged the rebound of the ball, Jordan Ayew flew past him and although Martínez saved Jamie Vardy's first shot, Mavididi reacted quicker to pounce on the loose ball.
Given the quality of the match, it was fitting that the third came from another blunder, as a mix-up between Ayew and James Justin let in Ian Maatsen.
After a one-two with fellow substitute Jacob Ramsey, Maatsen took on Bailey to beat Stolarczyk.
Villa should have sealed it when Bailey angled an effort against the bar, but neither Emi Buendia nor Ollie Watkins could finish as Watkins hooked an open goal from six yards.