Lee Hendrie's winner finally laid a ghost last night and, as Villa condemned Leicester to their second defeat in four days, left Peter Taylor wearing a haunted look. Leicester's chances of qualifying for Europe are remote.
Both sides went into the game looking to shed unenviable records. Leicester last won an away game in November and have lost their subsequent eight Premiership outings on their travels, while Aston Villa had not won any of the 14 league and cup encounters between the clubs since the Premiership began.
But it was the visitors who looked like putting the record straight when they went ahead in the 27th minute. James appeared to have Callum Davidson's shot from distance covered but was left heading in the wrong direction when the ball took a deflection off Alpay to put Leicester ahead.
The advantage was to last just two minutes, Dion Dublin heading firmly into goal but not past Royce. Fortunately for Villa the linesman was well positioned to spot the ball had crossed the line before the Leicester goalkeeper could parry it back out again.
And it was left to Hendrie to have the last word in the 73rd minute, following a free-kick. Having knocked a short pass to Gareth Southgate, Hendrie accepted the return and shot past Royce.
ASTON VILLA: James, Delaney, Wright, Southgate, Alpay, Boateng (Joachim 70), Stone (Ginola 59), Hendrie, Taylor, Dublin, Merson. Subs not used: Staunton, Vassell, Enckelman. Booked: Stone, Alpay. Goals: Dublin 30, Hendrie 72.
LEICESTER: Royce, Taggart, Elliott, Marshall, Davidson (Guppy 76), Impey, Oakes, Rowett, Lewis, Akinbiyi (Benjamin 76), Sturridge (Gunnlaugsson 34). Subs not used: Delaney, Andrews. Booked: Lewis, Taggart. Goals: Davidson 27. Att: 29,043.
Referee: M Dean (The Wirral).
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