Danny Ings spot on as Aston Villa edge Leeds in fiery Brisbane clash

Friendly boils over after Leeds teenager Archie Gray is flattened and carried off

Aston Villa's Danny Ings celebrates scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win against Leeds in Brisbane on July 17. AAP

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Archie Gray of Leeds United is stretchered off the field during the 2022 Queensland Champions Cup match between Aston Villa and Leeds United at Suncorp Stadium on July 17, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez / Getty Images)

Leeds United's Diego Llorente receives medical treatment. AFP

Aston Villa's Philippe Coutinho takes a shot. AAP

Leeds United's Pascal Struijk heads the ball. AFP

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard talks with Leeds manager Jesse Marsch before the match. AAP

Diego Carlos of Aston Villa and Patrick Bamford of Leeds are involved in an altercation. Getty

Aston Villa players thank the fans after the match. Getty

Villa's Danny Ings celebrates his penalty. Getty

Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia falls over Leeds United's Archie Gray. AFP

Philippe Coutinho in action. Getty

Danny Ings scored a penalty and Philippe Coutinho missed another as Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa edged Leeds United 1-0 in a high-intensity clash in Brisbane.

England international Ings converted in the second half after teammate Coutinho was denied by a fantastic double save from Leeds' young French goalkeeper Iilan Meslier.

There was plenty of niggle and tough tackling during the pre-season tour match in front of nearly 41,000 fans at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, which boiled over when Scottish midfielder John McGinn flattened 16-year-old Archie Gray.

The nephew of Leeds legend Eddie Gray and son of former Elland Road striker Andy Gray had only been on a few minutes when he went down clutching his ankle, with a leg brace fitted before he was carried away on a stretcher.

"Really good workout, a win and a clean sheet and a lot of positivity to take away," said former Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard.

"I was really happy with large parts of the first half, parts of the second half were a bit scrappy.

"There was a few spicy challenges, it's a contact game," he added when asked about Gray. "Hopefully the damage isn't too bad and he's back."

Villa finished 14th in the Premier League last season, only 10 points clear of the drop zone, and Gerrard has made it clear he believes they belong in the top 10.

The former Rangers boss has made some marquee signings, making Coutinho's loan deal from Barcelona permanent and bringing in Boubacar Kamara from Marseille and Diego Carlos from Sevilla.

Both Kamara and Carlos made their debuts on Sunday in the second successive win for Villa, after they beat Walsall 4-0 to start their pre-season programme last weekend.

Leeds kicked off their preparations for the new campaign on Thursday with a 2-1 win against Brisbane Roar.

They only just survived in the English top flight last season and, like Gerrard, manager Jesse Marsch expects better.

While Brazil winger Raphinha is on his way to Barcelona, Marsch has also brought in new players, notably Colombia winger Luis Sinisterra and American midfielder Tyler Adams.

"It was spirited and physical and I think both teams got something out of it," said Marsch.

"We just heard that we hope he's OK, it seems like an ankle sprain," he added of Gray.