Reggae Boy Bailey hits fourth of season in Villa romp
Chelsea's Conor Gallagher (left) and Aston Villa's Leon Bailey vie for the ball during their English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in London, England, on Saturday, April 1, 2023.(Photo: Observer file)

LONDON, England (CMC) — Reggae Boy Leon Bailey scored his second Premier League goal in four outings and his fourth in the last five games overall, as Aston Villa came from behind to thrash Crystal Palace 3-1 and continue their excellent start to the season on Saturday.

The 26-year-old winger, who featured over the last week in Concacaf Nations League qualifying for Jamaica, struck deep into stoppage time as Villa scored three times in the last 20 minutes of the contest which included an astonishing 17 minutes of added time.

For Villa, the win moved them into seventh in the standings on nine points, while Palace lie eighth on seven points.

"We were playing more with our hearts than with our minds in the last 20 minutes — and sometimes you need that," said Villa boss Unai Emery.

"At the end, we deserved to win. We scored three goals so I'm very happy because after their goal it was a difficult moment, and we really reacted very well."

Following a goalless first half Odsonne Edouard put the visitors ahead at Villa Park when he capitalised on a slip from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to score from close range, after being set up by Frenchman Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Palace appeared to be on course for an edgy victory with time ticking away when substitute Jhon Duran levelled the game with a thunderous volley in the 87th minute, before Douglas Luiz put the hosts ahead from the spot after eight minutes of stoppage time.

Bailey then signed off on the points, Moussa Diaby skipping down the left and finding him unmarked in the box, to easily tap in from eight yards.

In League One, Grenada international Omar Beckles scored his first goal of the season to earn Leyton Orient a share of the points in a 1-1 draw away to Peterborough.

Hector Kyprianou's 21st-minute strike handed Peterborough the ascendancy in the contest at London Road but Beckles found the equaliser in the 33rd minute when he got his head on to the end of Jordan Graham's cross.

In the National League, Tyrese Sinclair netted a first-half brace to propel Rochdale to a 4-2 home victory over Barnet at Spotland Stadium.

The 22-year-old Sinclair, son of former Jamaica international Frank Sinclair, scored in the 23rd and 42nd minutes as Rochdale led 2-1 at the break.

Harvey Gilmour stretched the hosts' lead in the 50th before Nicke Kabamba narrowed it again with the second of his brace in the 67th minute.

However, substitute Ian Henderson finished off a counter-attack at the death to seal the points for Rochdale.

Sinclair has scored seven goals for the season, including two braces last month.

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