Barkley and Bailey lift Aston Villa to prolong Leicester's Christmas nightmare | first division

Villa Park was quiet, disappointed, frustrations boiling in freezing weather, as Leicester repeatedly disrupted the flow of Villa Aston attacks. Ross Barkley's first goal was canceled out by a counterattack that was part of Ruud van Nistelrooy's plan.

An improved, tenacious, better organized, more disciplined Leicester, while trying to make up for the ruin of a Christmas, ended up regretting two more very avoidable goals. Just as Barkley's goal followed a deflected header from Jannik Vestergaard, Jordan Ayew was robbed by Ian Maatsen, and after a quick exchange with fellow substitute Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey was awarded a redeeming goal.

In those moments an effective game plan was wasted. Having been alongside Erik ten Hag and then briefly succeeded him at Manchester United, Van Nistelrooy's Leicester have inherited their former manager's habit of raining shots on their goalkeeper, conceding an average of more than 19 per game . Van Nistelrooy's inheritance from the deposed Steve Cooper was a bottom-three team. There have been few rebounds from coach Ruud, his opening victory over West Hama memory that fades after four consecutive defeats during Christmas.

In the defeat there were signs of a learning experience on the part of someone with still a few miles left on his managerial clock. In a stadium where he once greatly enjoyed being a striker, he had strengthened his team's defence. The plan was to see what would happen from there, Jamie Vardy looking forward, waiting for his moment to come as it did.

Van Nistelrooy had at least recognized the inconvenience of facing so many shots. This time, the count was reduced to 13; better, but still not enough. He helped face a dull Aston Villa. Unai Emery without two of Villa's stars this season, Morgan Rogers and Jhon Durán in the naughty step due to suspension. Villa are bearing the brunt of a campaign packed with matches at home and abroad. If Villa Park has gone nineteen games without the home fans suffering defeat, their away form places them in mid-table.

A Midlands derby in which Leicester fans reminded their western rivals of their superior achievements over the past three decades began with little enthusiasm. Leicester would not commit too much as long as Villa, bereft of Rogers' energy and movement, were stale, with too many straight lines, too much barren possession, playing as if weighed down by heavy winter woolen coats.

Villa's first chance also revealed their lack of swing, Bailey slipping before Jakub Stolarczyk saved Ollie Watkins' shot. The loss of John McGinn after 19 minutes with a hamstring problem was a blow, highlighting the tightrope being walked by overstretched players at this point in the season.

Leicester looked the more likely amid little entertainment when Bilal El Khannouss broke through and fired towards the Holte End. If Van Nistelrooy could have been happy with Leicester's improved defensive discipline, the first half closed with Stolarczyk saving from Matty Cash, a harbinger of what could follow.

The kind of chance Leicester had hoped for came early, El Khannouss's run past Emi Martínez setting up Stephy Mavididi for an open goal, only for the winger to miss the corners. That marked an opening, Villa trying to serve Watkins, although Bailey looked out of touch, a far cry from last season's form.

In the end, the pressure (and the concession of more shots) took effect and Barkley beat a possibly blinded Stolarczyk, after Vestergaard's mistake. It was a lead Villa did not maintain for long as Jordan Ayew, against the club he left unloved eight years ago, whipped in a cross. Vardy was waiting and when Emi Martínez saved, Mavididi took advantage of a much more difficult opportunity than his previous miss.

A couple of set-piece routines from Austin MacPhee, Villa's version of Arsenal's linebacker attack, looked like their most likely route to victory, but the goal came from open play, Maatsen's perfect execution of pressing a weak opponent. From then on, and worryingly for Van Nistelrooy, more Villa shots began to rain. A refreshed Bailey hit the crossbar before Buendia and Watkins went close in the same sequence and Watkins then left a missed Buendia that kept Leicester in a contest they will feel could have given more.