Lewis Grabban’s first-half header proved to be the difference as Aston Villa maintained their hopes of automatic promotion with a 1-0 victory over Leeds in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday evening.

The hosts looked dominant in the first half and Grabban scored his fifth goal for Villa to give Steve Bruce’s side an important lead when he headed home Jack Grealish’s cross (29).

Leeds’ threat grew in the second half with the introduction of Samuel Saiz but, despite Villa looking shaky after the interval, the home side battled to a crucial victory that secures at least a play-off place.

Victory moves Villa to within two points of second-placed Fulham, though their automatic promotion ambitions lie largely out of their hands having played a game more. Paul Heckingbottom’s Leeds remain 14th in the standings.

With the play-offs unreachable for Leeds, they had the chance to scupper Villa’s chances of automatic promotion, but despite an enterprising start in the Midlands, the visitors never really looked like doing so in the first half.

It took more than 10 minutes for the first sight of goal but, when the first series of chances came, Bailey Peacock-Farrell looked alert to first beat away Robert Snodgrass’ curling effort, before racing from his line to head a long ball clear with Jonathan Kodjia lurking.

By the time the first goal came, the hosts were comfortably in control. Leeds’ defensive frailties were then laid bare as Grealish swung in a cross from the left and Grabban overpowered Matthew Pennington to plant a header past Peacock-Farrell.

Leeds improved after the break as an air of anxiety gripped Villa Park, but that feeling was somewhat soothed on the hour mark when Grabban went within inches of scoring his second.

The 30-year-old beat the offside trap to force Peacock-Farrell into a smart reaction save, before the Leeds ‘keeper just about managed push Kodjia’s effort away from the rebound.

Leeds’ lack of potency in attack and failure to test Sam Johnstone played to their opponents’ advantage as Villa saw out the match for a vital win.

*Villa boss Steve Bruce*

“We did enough and sometimes you need to win your fifth game in 13 days 1-0. I always thought we were comfortable and we just needed that second one; we’ve had one or two opportunities but in the end I think both teams have run their race. We’re delighted. A 1-0 win is decent and we’ve done it without pulling up too many trees.

“The one thing we’ve tried to do all season is to try and get the ball in the box from a wide area and we’ve been quite successful. We didn’t have many but that cross from Grealish in the end was the deciding factor. That little bit of quality he possesses, good cross, great header and it’s won us the match.”