Ian Walker was involved in an ugly bust-up with a Leicester City fan as his side were destroyed by a second-half goal blitz from David O'Leary's side.

Tempers boiled over after the third of five goals in just 18 minutes when a Foxes spectator came onto the pitch to remonstrate with the England keeper.

Walker was clearly incensed by what had been said and responded by repeatedly shoving the spectator before he fell to the ground and was bundled away by slow reacting stewards.

The ex-Tottenham player could face disciplinary action for his angry outburst and it was an ugly interlude in a nightmare second half for Micky Adams' side as Villa registered their first Premiership win in Leicester.

It mirrored the incident in last season's Second City derby between Birmingham and Villa when a fan, who was later given a four-month prison sentence, eye-balled Peter Enckelman - although on that occasion the player did not react.

The Foxes have now gone 11 league and cup games without a win and they were again guilty of some appalling defensive work as Villa cut through them like a knife through butter. Unless they tighten up quickly then relegation will become a certainty.

The big plus point for Villa was Peter Crouch's first two Premiership goals for 20 months as he responded to O'Leary's demand to start hitting the target.

The first clear-cut opportunity fell to Leicester after five minutes when Villa defender Dion Dublin slipped over when attempting to clear Walker's long punt forward.

That left Villa striker Marcus Bent with a clear run at goal but he failed to show the required composure and lashed his shot over the crossbar when James Scowcroft was well placed in the centre.

Villa skipper Olof Mellberg became the first player to be booked by referee Jeff Winter after eight minutes for holding back Bent, who had undone the Sweden international with some trickery.

Thomas Sorensen looked to be day dreaming and was fortunate to escape when his clearance was charged down by Bent with Leicester the sharper side in the early stages.

But the visitors slowly started to claw their way back into the game and by the interval they were in the ascendancy.

Nikos Dabizas wrestled Vassell to the ground on the angle of the Leicester penalty area to give Villa newcomer Nolberto Solano a chance to show his free-kick skills but he curled his shot just over Walker's crossbar.

Then the woodwork came to the Foxes rescue in the 21st minute after beanpole striker Peter Crouch had headed a deep free-kick from Gareth Barry back across goal.

Villa midfielder Gavin McCann was first to react but he sent his volley against the underside of the crossbar from four yards out with no-one on hand to turn home the rebound.

Steve Guppy's crosses and free-kicks caused some problems for Villa but it needed a fine save by Walker after half an hour to keep Leicester on level terms.

He went full-length to turn a powerful effort from Vassell around the post after the England striker had cut in from the left and skipped past the challenges of John Curtis and Dabizas.

Villa were now in the ascendancy in the wet and windswept conditions and appeared to be showing no hangover from their Carling Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Bolton.

It came as no surprise when after 50 minutes Vassell netted his first away Premiership goal of the campaign to put Villa in front.

The England striker beat the offside trap to race onto a pass from Thomas Hitzlsperger and he curled his low shot past Walker's despairing dive into the corner of the net.

Seven minutes later there was joy for Crouch as he headed in an inswinging corner from Hitzlsperger at the far post.

Leicester were now in tatters and after 60 minutes Vassell drilled a low shot from the edge of the area into the corner of the net after Barry had turned a Solano cross into his path.

That was the signal for Walker's clash with the spectator but there was no let-up after order had been restored.

Dion Dublin scrambled in a Hitzlsperger free-kick for number four and Villa's nap hand was completed when Crouch fired a shot across Walker after controlling a pass from Delaney.

Teams:

Leicester: Walker, Curtis (Sinclair 78), Scimeca, Dabizas, Thatcher, Gillespie (Hignett 63), Davidson, McKinlay (Elliott 63), Guppy, Scowcroft, Bent.

Subs Not Used: Coyne, Stewart.

Aston Villa: Sorensen, Delaney (De la Cruz 81), Mellberg, Dublin, Samuel, Solano, McCann, Hitzlsperger (Whittingham 71), Barry, Crouch, Vassell (Allback 71).

Subs Not Used: Postma, Ridgewell.

Booked: Mellberg.

Goals: Vassell 50, Crouch 57, Vassell 60, Dublin 64, Crouch 68.

Att: 31,056

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).