Aston Villa may have beaten them 2-1, but Leeds boss Jesse Marsch said it was his team’s “best performance” in his 11 months in charge.
Leon Bailey completed a quick counterattack to give Villa an early lead and Emiliano Buendia headed their second before Patrick Bamford’s late strike for Leeds.
Marsch told BBC Sport: “It was the most complete performance we’ve had since I’ve been here. It’s a really positive sign for me. It hurts to lose but a really positive performance.
“I did my best to create a process and understand how we want to play football. I’m really happy to see it now starting to come together.”
Marsch, who took over last February, sees his team staying two points above the drop zone.
“We have to stay focused on our process and not be stressed by the table. I want us to stay focused on us,” he said.
Bailey contributed to both goals, with the Jamaican winger finishing off a counterattack after a fine run from Boubacar Kamara in just the third minute to put the hosts ahead.
It was Villa’s only shot in the first half, with Leeds having two penalty appeals dismissed, a Rodrigo goal disallowed for offside and missing big chances.
Villa debutant Alex Moreno denied Rodrigo a goal-line clearance and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a wonderful reaction save to deny Jack Harrison from close range.
Unai Emery’s hosts were better in the second half and they got the goal to put them more at ease – thanks to the video assistant referee.
Bailey’s shot was stopped by Illan Meslier with Buendia heading the rebound off the ground keeper.
The goal was ruled out for offside, but VAR told referee Michael Oliver that Buendia was clearly onside – and it was awarded.
Leeds, however, found hope in the final 10 minutes when Wilfried Gnonto cut the ball for Bamford, making his return after two and a half months out with a groin injury, to head home.
But they couldn’t find an equalizer and remain just two points above the relegation zone, Villa eight points down the table in 11th.
It was not a perfect night for Villa, who lost left-back Lucas Digne and striker Ollie Watkins to injury in the first half.
The villa bounces
It was Villa’s first home win since the World Cup break in November – and timely after last weekend’s shock FA Cup defeat to Stevenage.
Veteran full-back Ashley Young was involved in most of their key moments in the game.
The goal came from a Leeds corner which Young snagged on Kamara, who ran half the pitch before finding Bailey, whose finish was magnificent.
Moreno, a £13million signing from Real Betis on Wednesdaystarted on the bench but was needed within nine minutes after Digne suffered a shoulder injury.
He did well to deny Rodrigo after the striker rounded the Villa keeper and later Young blocked Gnonto’s shot after Martinez denied Harrison.
Villa managed one shot in the first half – that goal – and 10 efforts in the second half.
Their second goal had similarities to their first with Young tackling Tyler Adams in the box shortly before Buendia headed in the other end.
They got scared after Bamford scored but Philippe Coutinho nearly secured it with a 45-yard lob that went just over the top.
Emery said: “We struggled in the first half and in the second half we played better. It was difficult for us to play through the press.
“It was important to score the second goal because they were playing well to try to score and they did.
“It’s no surprise to me that they came back. We needed the goalkeeper and Martinez’s save was amazing.
“I’m so, so happy with Leon Bailey. In the last game he had two really good chances to win the game and he was a little upset and today he scored the goal and made the action in the second goal.”
Frustrations for Leeds
Leeds felt they should have had a penalty when Douglas Luiz put his arms on Rodrigo, but it was not awarded and Harrison fired wide as the game progressed.
There was another shout as Tyrone Mings pulled Gnonto’s shirt into a corner – also denied by officials.
Rodrigo, Harrison and Gnonto all had chances before Rodrigo’s goal was disallowed.
The leader sent a cross to Brenden Aaronson, whose shot was blocked by Mings. Rodrigo, on the ground, grabbed the rebound – but he had been offside to start so the goal didn’t count.
The second half was much more even but the chances kept coming for Leeds. Gnonto curled up and Aaronson deflected a shot.
They finally got the goal they deserved when teenager Gnonto passed Young before bursting down the left and setting up substitute Bamford for his first goal since 2021.
Jesse Marsch’s side pushed to equalize but Villa held on.
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