Leicester City 0-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa recorded a first goalless draw of the season as their all-midlands affair against Leicester City ended in stalemate.

Villa ended a run of four successive defeats with a solid point and clean sheet at King Power Stadium, also their first draw on the road this term.

Steven Gerrard’s side were compact and posed the greater attacking threat, Ollie Watkins going close, while Emi Martínez saved from James Maddison’s free-kick, although it was a Premier League encounter of few clear-cut chances.

The Villans entertain Norwich City next up as they look to build upon their current tally of 37 points with six matches remaining.

Villa showed two changes for the encounter as Ashley Young stepped in to replace injured left-back Lucas Digne while Jamaica international Leon Bailey was also recalled in place of Danny Ings.

And it was Bailey who fired over a great opportunity to open the scoring after just eight minutes following impressive work from Watkins as he capitalised on a mistake from Wesley Fofana.

James Justin sent an effort over the crossbar from close range after 19 minutes before Watkins forced Kasper Schmeichel to get down low and save his strike from distance.

Maddison curled a free-kick narrowly wide for the Foxes at the end of the first half as the opening 45 minutes finished goalless in the East Midlands.

The lively Watkins forced Schmeichel into a parried stop at his neat post as both sides continued to search for the crucial breakthrough in the second period.

Head coach Steven Gerrard turned to talented teenager Tim Iroegbunam in the 76th minute for only his second Premier League appearance off the bench.

And the clash remained finely poised heading into the latter stages, with the hosts enjoying the better of the possession but Villa posing the greater threat in the final third.

Emi Buendía was introduced off the bench before compatriot Martínez got down well to make a smart save from Maddison’s free-kick.

Buendía almost made an immediate impact as he curled just off target in the 87^th minute.

Marvelous Nakamba made a welcome return during seven minutes of injury time, but neither side could find a winner as Villa claimed a creditable point against a Foxes side who had won their last three league games on home soil.