Destined for the kind of defeat which can prove costly to the Champions League in the long run, Villa fought back to beat Leeds and secure their sixth win in seven Premier League matches.
Morgan Rogers celebrated his new contract with both goals, while Emi Martinez went from villain to hero in the space of 90 minutes.
The keeper, culpable for Lukas Nmecha’s eighth-minute opener for the hosts, produced a big save from Pascal Struijk in the closing stages to preserve the victory.
This was also a day which again demonstrated the strength of Villa’s reserves.
With his team off the pace in the first half, struggling to match the aggression of the hosts on a pudding pitch, Unai Emery brought on Donyell Malen at the break and within three minutes he had set-up Rogers for the equaliser.
Another substitute, Ross Barkley, was then brought down for the free-kick from which Rogers produced a replica of Emi Buendia’s fabulous “knuckleball” effort against Bournemouth a fortnight previously.
Truth be told, the England international did not have the best of matches in general play. There was nothing to quibble, however, about the quality of the two finishes.
Once the second had gone in with 15 minutes remaining Villa saw it home thanks to Martinez, the keeper saving with his legs from Struijk as the home side pushed for a leveller in the final minutes.
This was Villa’s second Premier League away win of the season and the second in which they have come from a goal down.
Youri Tielemans replaced Amadou Onana in the only change to the starting XI from the 4-0 win over Bournemouth prior to the international break, his fellow Belgian having failed to recover in time from the niggle sustained on international duty.
Yet the latter’s absence from the squad did not mean a recall to the matchday 20 for Harvey Elliott, with Emery instead choosing to draft 18-year-old George Hemmings on to the bench.
For all the encouraging noises Emery might still make in public about Elliott, this felt the clearest indication yet his Villa career is over before it has barely started.
There was a sense of Martinez’s Villa career being rejuvenated after his penalty save against Bournemouth but Leeds’ early goal here was symptomatic of the uncertainty which has crept into his game when it comes to commanding the box.
Rogers was clumsy in bringing down Brenden Aaronson and when the free-kick was sent into the box it was the home side who won the header.
Martinez then appeared to simply be outjumped at the far post by Anton Stach and though Konsa was on the line, his clearance smashed against Nmecha and the ball ended up in the net.
There followed several moments of confusion as Martinez and Stach received treatment and referee Robert Jones seemed reluctant to make a decision. But once VAR Paul Tierney had established there was no offside, there was no reason for the goal not to be given and Leeds had much craved for momentum.
The hosts went close again when Aaronson hit into the side-netting from Nmecha’s pull back.
On the other flank, Noah Okafor provided a regular menace for the visiting defence, winning the corner which ended with Aaronson bring a sharp stop from Martinez with a firmly struck half volley.
At the other end Villa were struggling to get anything going, with passes either overhit or underhit and no-one on the same page.
Only in the final minutes of the opening half did they show signs of life, Matty Cash thumping wide after Villa’s best move of the half. Watkins then curled just off target from outside the box.
It wasn’t enough to prevent Emery from making half-time changes and it paid swift dividends. Cash found the newly introduced Malen and he drove a low ball into the box which Rogers flicked home at the near post for his second goal of the season.
Elland Road was suddenly a lot quieter. Aaronson threatened to raise noise levels again when he charged at the Villa defence only to see his shot blocked by a sliding Konsa.
Watkins then tested Perri with a low shot which the keeper couldn’t hold, Pascal Struijk clearing to anywhere as panic suddenly reigned in the home backline.
“Make a sub,” sang the Leeds fans toward Farke. One seemed to want to make the suggestion in person, wandering through the Villa technical area before being intercepted by security.
McGinn curled just over, while Malen struck wide after turning in the box but the match was drifting.
More Emery subs did the trick. Barkley came on and was brought down by Struijk just outside the box. Rogers sent a beautiful free-kick over the wall and under the bar, shaking hands with set piece coach Austin MacPhee during the celebrations.
Leeds thought they had an instant response through Dominic Calvert-Lewin but Villa’s defence was adamant the striker had used his hand to turn home Daniel James’ cross and replays backed them up.
Malen shot over but Villa could not quite land the blow to kill the home side off completely and they would get one more big chance from a free-kick.
Struijk met the delivery at the far post and headed low but Martinez was equal to it.
Leeds (4-3-3): Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Ampadu, Stach (Tanaka 23 (Calvert-Lewin 71)), Aaronson (Piroe 80), Nmecha (James 71), Okafor (Gnoto 80) Subs not used: Bijol, Justin, Gruev, Darlow (gk).
Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne (Maatsen HT), Kamara, Tielemans (Bogarde 84), McGinn (Barkley 68), Rogers, Buendia (Malen HT), Watkins (Sancho 68) Subs not used: Lindelof, Hemmings, Guessand, Bizot (gk).
