Leicester 3-2 Aston Villa: Ritchie De Laet, Jamie Vardy and Nathan Dyer complete stunning comeback in feisty Midlands derby

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Leicester City came into the game as one of only two Premier League sides still unbeaten this season
Jack Grealish opened the scoring five minutes before half-time with his first goal for Aston Villa
After a period of Leicester pressure in the second half, Carles Gil doubled Villa's lead with his first top-flight goal
The home side pulled one back with 20 minutes to play, when Ritchie De Laet flicked home from a corner
England striker Jamie Vardy levelled the scores with eight minutes to play as Leicester piled on the pressure
In the 89th minute, Nathan Dyer completed the comeback with a brave header to win the game for the Foxes

Published: 11:55 EST, 13 September 2015 | Updated: 17:03 EST, 13 September 2015

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It is rather apt that physio Dave Rennie was required to inform Leicester City's goal-scorer of his decisive contribution in this brilliantly bonkers game.

Nathan Dyer, dizzy from a heavy collision with Brad Guzan sustained while applying a telling forehead touch, epitomised the fighting character of his team, their refusal to accept when odds are stacked against them.

Dyer is 5ft 5in, but somehow managed to beat Micah Richards and Guzan to a lofted ball forward by the marvellous Riyad Mahrez and loop it over the line. He lay dazed on the floor for a minute or so, but was roused and realised his debut after a deadline-day loan switch from Swansea had ended in dream fashion. He was brave, he was committed. He will fit right in at Leicester.

Nathan Dyer (centre) puts his head on the line to score Leicester's third - and winning - goal against Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium

Dyer (centre), who is on loan from Swansea, managed to get his head to the ball to score, but was clattered by Brad Guzan in the aftermath

As the ball (top) flies towards the Aston Villa goal, Dyer is sandwiched between Alan Hutton (left) and goalkeeper Guzan (centre)

The Leicester fans salute their hero Dyer as he walks off the pitch after receiving medical treatment in the aftermath of his goal

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Leicester (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel 6; De Laet 6.5, Huth 6, Morgan 7, Schlupp 6.5; Mahrez 8, Inler 6 (Kante 64' 5), Drinkwater 7, Albrighton 6 (Ulloa 64' 5.5); Okazaki (Dyer 46' 7), Vardy 7.5

Subs not used: King, Simpson, Kramaric, Schwarzer

Booked: Albrighton, Dyer

Manager: Claudio Ranieri 8

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Guzan 6; Bacuna 5 (Hutton 86'), Richards 6, Lescott 6, Amavi 5; Westwood 6.5, Sanchez 6; Gil 7 (Ayew 65' 5), Sinclair 6.5, Grealish 7.5; Agbonlahor 7 (Gestede 75' 5)

Subs not used: Clark, Veretout, Richardson, Bunn

Booked: Amavi

Manager: Tim Sherwood 7

Jamie Vardy levelled the scores at 2-2 when he poked home after a move involving five Leicester players. Click HERE to see more from our brilliant Match Zone service.

The goal completed a comeback few would have predicted. But, really, what else should be expected from a team who never know when they are beaten?

Two goals down with 20 minutes to go, they used all their guts and creativity to claw three points from the grasp of an Aston Villa side honing in on victory.

Tim Sherwood rightly criticised his players for failing to stem the tide, but Leicester do create some pretty big waves that have drowned many other sides.

They are a group still high on life after the remarkable escape from relegation last season. Those months at the foot of the table seem a distant memory now. Leicester have taken 33 points from a possible 42 since April 4 and remain unbeaten this season, playing bold, attacking football. Second place in the Premier League is deservedly theirs.

Jamie Vardy is simply relentless and Mahrez sheer quality, the £350,000 fee paid for his signature seeming increasingly miniscule. At one point in the first half the Algerian sent three players to the ground with one dazzling dragback.

Jamie Vardy scored the second of Leicester's three goals as they fought back from two goals down to beat Aston Villa on Sunday

Vardy screams in delight as he runs to the corner flag to celebrate; he scored in the 82nd minute to level the scores at 2-2

England striker Vardy (bottom) bundles the ball past Brad Guzan in the Aston Villa goal to send the home fans into raptures

Ritchie De Laet (centre right) scored a rare goal to make the score 1-2 and give the home side a glimmer of hope at the King Power

Nigel Pearson lays claim to much of this but Claudio Ranieri is gradually proving his shock appointment in the summer is not the mistake it perhaps seemed. The 63-year-old conducts himself with great dignity and made the right substitutions here to affect the flow of the game. He wasted no time sending on Dyer at the interval and Leicester's second-half display was much improved.

'The physio treating me told me I scored,' revealed Dyer afterwards. 'I didn't know beforehand. It was a nice feeling. I was just dazed — it was easy to get back up. It's a joy to play for a team like this.'

It had appeared as if the story would be all about a superb first senior goal by Jack Grealish. The Villa forward, 20 last Thursday, gave himself the best birthday gift by curling in a classy strike to open the scoring.

The ball came his way at the edge of the area in the 39th minute following some pinball from a corner. He cushioned a firm and precise shot into the far end of the net to show how his mesmerising close control can also come with end product. The debate about his national allegiance is sure to intensify.

Sherwood was devastated. 'I've never felt this bad,' he said. 'Ever. There was a lot of bad play there in the last half hour. We turned it over stupidly.

Jack Grealish strikes the ball through a wall of bodies, managing to find the far corner to net his first Aston Villa goal after 39 minutes

Referee Mike Dean watches on as Grealish's ball flies towards Kasper Schmeichel's goal to put Aston Villa 1-0 up at the King Power

Goalscorer Grealish immediately ran to Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood and assistant Mark Robson to celebrate his opening goal

Grealish (centre) lifts his arms to the Aston Villa fans in the away end at the King Power Stadium after putting his side 1-0 up on Sunday

'We lost control when they scored their first goal. Unfortunately, we couldn't wrestle the momentum back from them. The only way you do that is by keeping the ball and we just kept giving it back to them.

'What can I say? I'm gutted for everyone who's associated with the football club. We have to stop letting in soft goals. Who cares if we played well? We lost. Totally lost.'

Sherwood may have been utterly disconsolate, but for an hour of this match Villa purred like he has hoped since he walked in the door. The defence, marshalled by Joleon Lescott, seemed solid and there was fluency in attack.

They created a great opening in the eighth minute but Gabby Agbonlahor's cross was a little too far ahead of Scott Sinclair. In the 24th minute Carles Gil crafted a chance for Grealish, who should have done better than steer a finish straight at Kasper Schmeichel.

In the 63rd minute Villa went 2-0 up through a stunning hit by Gil. The Spaniard connected with Agbonlahor's pullback with a left foot shot from distance that bent wickedly into the top corner.

Jeff Schlupp (left) can only watch on as Carles Gil strikes from outside the penalty area to secure his first Premier League goal

Danish goalkeeper Schmeichel was at full stretch, but he could not reach the ball as it nestled in the top corner of his net

Gil (centre right) is congratulated by team-mate Gabby Agbonlahor after he put Villa in a commanding position at 2-0

Leandro Bacuna (left) and Vardy square up to each other as the Midlands derby between Aston Villa and Leicester heats up

With the goal gaping and Schmeichel (right) unable to stop the attack, Scott Sinclair cannot quite reach the ball to put Villa ahead

But Leicester are made of stern stuff. Ranieri made his final two substitutions instantly, putting Leo Ulloa on for Marc Albrighton and N’Golo Kante for Gokhan Inler. The fightback followed.

In the 72nd minute Ritchie de Laet stretched his foot ahead of the Villa defence at a corner by Mahrez to loop a shot goalwards. Westwood looked to have cleared smartly from under the crossbar but after a couple of seconds technology showed it had crossed the line.

That was all the encouragement Leicester needed to flood forward and Villa had no answer. The hosts equalised with eight minutes to go.

Terrific work in midfield by Mahrez released Danny Drinkwater down the right and his centre was attacked with fury by Jamie Vardy.

Leandro Bacuna was too slow to react and the England forward met the ball at pace to send the King Power Stadium crazy. The mood was delirious by the time Dyer made his mark. No wonder. Only Manchester City are above them.

Despite that, Ranieri is only concerned about survival.

‘It’s not March or April. It’s only September,’ said the Italian. ‘Afterwards we can dream, but now, no.

‘We are solid with our feet on the ground. Things can change. We have to stay focused — the goal is to stay in the Premier League.’