Leeds hit back to silence Villa

David James is distraught after the Leeds equaliser

Aston Villa 1-2 Leeds United

Leeds United ended a dismal sequence at Aston Villa with Ian Harte grabbing a second-half winner to claim the points.

Villa had looked on course for a fifth successive victory against David O'Leary's side when the impressive Paul Merson - in front of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson - put them ahead mid-way through the first half.

Robbie Keane had scored the winner for Coventry against John Gregory's side last season at Highfield Road which left the Villa boss fighting to hold onto his job.

This time he set up the goals for Lee Bowyer and Ian Harte which earned Leeds only their third away league win of the campaign.

A scrappy opening

Leeds deserved their win, which leaves Villa with only one league in the last 11 games, despite a late rally by the home side in which Merson twice hit the woodwork.

Villa worked hard, but only Merson looked as if he had the skills to unlock the Leeds defence.

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Gregory left Dion Dublin on the bench, but £9.5m club-record signing Juan Pablo Angel, making his home debut, had a quiet game.

The opening 20 minutes was a scrappy affair, but Lee Hendrie almost opened the scoring for the hosts, but his 20-yard shot went just over the bar.

It came as no surprise when Villa broke the deadlock in the 24th minute through Merson.

Barry floated over a left-wing free-kick which was flicked on by Ian Taylor into the path of the midfielder who drilled the ball past Paul Robinson.

It was Villa's first goal in 386 minutes of Premiership football since George Boateng scored in the 2-1 win at Elland Road last month.

Half-time tears

The lead lasted just four minutes as Villa paid the penalty for backing off before Keane threaded the ball into the path of Bowyer.

The former England Under-21 man gave Villa keeper David James little chance as he side-footed the ball into the corner of the net.

During the interval Belgium striker Luc Nilis made an emotional farewell to Villa fans after being forced to retire because of his broken leg suffered in September.

Jason Wilcox was introduced for the second period, but it was Villa who came close to reclaiming the lead when Steve Stone clipped the bar after Robinson had parried away a shot from Boateng.

Leeds claimed the points after Gareth Barry had held down Keane in the box following a cross from Viduka - Harte comfortably despatched the penalty.

Villa were unlucky not to salvage a point in the dying seconds. After Merson had beaten Robinson, his shot unluckily rebounded off the woodwork.

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Aston Villa: James, Stone, Alpay, Staunton, Barry, Wright, Taylor, Boateng, Hendrie, Merson, Angel. Subs: Dublin, Ginola, Vassell, Delaney, Enckelman.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Ferdinand, Harte, Bowyer, Dacourt, Bakke, Matteo, Viduka, Keane. Subs: Martyn, Wilcox, Smith, Mills, Batty.

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)