It's test time, Leeds at Aston Villa

It's all good at the moment isn't it. I mean, that's a little of an understatement to be true, it's bloody amazing. And it looks so effortless. Did anyone ever say that football isn't rocket science?

I don't know where I got that from, but it's definitely not me. I think it might have been a Liverpool manager, maybe someone else but my point is it can be over complicated. Gareth Southgate over complicates it.

But this post isn't about that, it's about tonight. It's about watching our side play a game that we are starting to get used to. It's about watching our team want to win and playing the right way. It's about scoring goals and winning matches. And a win tonight means we go top of the League. Nobody would have predicted this.

And tonight is a test. Leeds will play a certain way and they'll be at us for 90 minutes. I'm not convinced they have the quality for this League, but if we have learnt anything, it's that fight and team spirit is equally important and they have that. Every team will have to do well to beat Leeds this season and that means tonight we have to play like we have played so far this season.

Leeds are not Fulham but they're also not Liverpool but they have to be approached in the same way and I have a good feeling that we will. I have a good feeling about this team and team spirit. I'm out trying to find a bar. Back later.

Match facts from the BBC

Head-to-head

• Aston Villa won 2-0 in the most recent Premier League meeting in February 2004. It's one of only two victories in their past 13 fixtures against Leeds in all competitions.
• This is the first match between Villa and Leeds since a 1-1 Championship draw at Elland Road in April 2019, when the hosts allowed Villa to equalise uncontested from kick-off after Mateusz Klich scored a contentious opening goal.

Aston Villa

• Villa have started a season with four successive league wins for the first time since 1930-31. They have never won their opening five games.
• Dean Smith's side can equal the club Premier League record of five consecutive victories, set in 1996 and matched in 1998.
• Villa's current eight-match unbeaten streak is their longest in the Premier League since a run of 10 games ended in October 2011.
• They can win each of their opening three home matches of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2006-07.
• The Villans are the only club not to have trailed in a Premier League fixture this season.
• Villa have conceded two top-flight goals this season, four fewer than any other club.
• Dean Smith is winless in all three league matches as a manager versus Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds (D2, L1).

Leeds United

• The Whites are attempting to win consecutive Premier League away matches for the first time in 18 years.
• They can also keep back-to-back Premier League away clean sheets for the first time since April 2002.
• Leeds have seven points after five matches. The other two promoted clubs have amassed a combined three points this season.
• They are one short of 100 Premier League away defeats.
• Striker Patrick Bamford is looking to score in the club's first three away league matches of a season for a second consecutive year.
• Pablo Hernandez has been directly involved in six goals in seven league starts against Aston Villa, with one goal and five assists.